Archive · 10 Oct 2026
West Bengal Chief Secretary Seeks Apology and Damages From Mahua Moitra
West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal sent politician Mahua Moitra a legal notice.
The notice concerns two posts she made on social media.
In them, Moitra accused Agarwal of helping wrongly remove many eligible voters from voter lists.
Agarwal’s lawyer said the accusation was false.
The lawyer said Agarwal did his official work according to the law and Election Commission directions.
The notice asks Moitra to delete the posts within 24 hours of receiving it.
It also asks her to apologize and promise not to make similar comments.
Agarwal is seeking Rs 10 crore in damages and Rs 50,000 for legal costs.
Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal sent TMC MP Mahua Moitra a legal notice over two social media posts.
Moitra’s posts accused Agarwal of responsibility for the alleged illegal disenfranchisement of legitimate voters in West Bengal.
Agarwal’s lawyer rejected the accusations, saying he followed the law and Election Commission directions and committed no electoral malpractice.
The notice seeks an unconditional written apology, a promise not to make similar remarks, and deletion of the posts within 24 hours of receipt.
It demands Rs 10 crore in damages and Rs 50,000 for legal and incidental expenses.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal sent a legal notice to TMC MP Mahua Moitra.
- What
- The notice concerns Moitra’s social media accusations and seeks deletion, an apology, an undertaking, and monetary damages.
- When
- Friday, October 9; the year is not specified in the report.
- Where
- Kolkata, West Bengal.
- Why
- Agarwal alleges that Moitra’s posts defamed him and harmed his reputation, integrity, and professional standing.
Agarwal’s position
Moitra’s allegation
Alleged voter disenfranchisement and electoral conduct
Agarwal’s position
Agarwal’s lawyer rejected the accusations, saying he neither engaged in vote theft nor committed electoral malpractice, and acted according to the law and Election Commission directions.
Moitra’s allegation
Moitra’s posts accused Agarwal of being responsible for the alleged illegal disenfranchisement of lakhs of legitimate voters in West Bengal.
Reputational harm
Agarwal’s position
Agarwal claims the remarks harmed his reputation, integrity, and professional standing and is seeking damages and an apology.
Moitra’s allegation
Moitra’s stated accusations concern Agarwal’s alleged role in voter disenfranchisement; the report does not include a response from her to the legal notice.
- Notice sender
- Manoj Agarwal, West Bengal Chief Secretary
- Notice recipient
- Mahua Moitra, TMC MP
- Posts at issue
- Two social media posts
- Deletion deadline
- Within 24 hours of receiving the notice
- Damages sought
- Rs 10 crore
- Legal and incidental expenses sought
- Rs 50,000
- Additional demands
- An unconditional written apology and an undertaking not to make similar remarks