Kolkata, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A court in Kolkata on Thursday directed Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra to delete two social media posts targeting West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal over his role in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise when he served as the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).
The posts, published on October 3 and October 6, described Agarwal as “Vote Chor” (vote thief). Agarwal first issued a legal notice to Moitra and subsequently filed a defamation suit seeking ₹10 crore in compensation.
The matter came up for hearing before a lower court in Alipore, South Kolkata. At the end of the hearing, the judge directed Moitra to remove the two posts within 24 hours of receiving the court order.
The court also restrained the Krishnanagar MP from publishing fresh social media posts containing allegedly defamatory comments against Agarwal or resharing older posts concerning the same matter. Moitra is to be issued a notice asking her to explain why the restriction on her comments should not be upheld.
The judge observed that Moitra’s posts went beyond criticism of the SIR process and also accused Agarwal of illegal acts during his tenure as the state’s CEO. According to the court, Moitra had not presented suitable evidence to substantiate the serious allegations, raising doubts about their legal basis.
The court noted that citizens had the right to discuss and criticise the SIR exercise in the public interest, but said that such criticism did not justify defamatory comments against a government official.
Holding the posts objectionable, the court directed Moitra to delete them within the stipulated period.
Reacting to the order on social media, Moitra said she would challenge the direction.
“I will be filing a vacating application to reinforce my right to call a ‘Vote Chor’ a ‘Vote Chor’,” she said.
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