Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Rights body flags judge's egg attack remark on Mahua Moitra
A very important politician in India named Mahua Moitra was scared to go to the police station by herself.
Some people had thrown eggs at her before, and she worried it could happen again.
She asked a court if she could talk to the police using a video call instead of going in person.
A big judge called the Supreme Court talked about her request out loud.
A group that protects people's rights thought the judge's words were unkind and unfair.
They wrote a letter saying everyone should be safe, especially women who work in public.
Because of what happened in court, Mahua's lawyer took back her request.
The rights group hopes the court will listen more carefully and treat people with respect.
They said people should not be attacked just for being in the opposition.
The Bandi Mukti Committee, a Bengal-based human rights body, issued an open letter objecting to Supreme Court Justice Dipankar Datta's remarks during Mahua Moitra's hearing.
Moitra had challenged the Calcutta High Court's order to appear in person before police, seeking to appear virtually because she feared another humiliating egg attack.
The committee said the judge reportedly drew an analogy comparing the case to how freedom fighters were treated by the colonial state.
Moitra's lawyer withdrew her petition after the judge's verbal remarks during the hearing.
The committee called the remarks insensitive, legally untenable, and an affront to women, and accused the court of giving leeway to state-sponsored attackers.
- Who
- MP Mahua Moitra; Supreme Court Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu; the Bandi Mukti Committee human rights body led by its president, Sujato Bhadra.
- What
- The rights body objected to Justice Datta's remarks during Moitra's hearing, after which her lawyer withdrew her plea to appear virtually before police out of fear of another egg attack.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- The Supreme Court of India; the earlier order being challenged came from the Calcutta High Court; the activists are based in Bengal.
- Why
- The committee said the court showed acute insensitivity toward a woman in public life and that the remarks undermined human rights and law-enforcement accountability.
- Petitioner
- Mahua Moitra, an Opposition MP
- Bench
- Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu
- Rights body
- Bandi Mukti Committee
- Committee president
- Sujato Bhadra
- Petition sought
- Permission to appear virtually before police instead of in person
- Order challenged
- Calcutta High Court order for in-person appearance before police
- Outcome
- Petition withdrawn after the judge's verbal remarks