Mahua faces criminal complaint over army operation comments
The Statesman | 14 May 2026
A fresh political and legal storm erupted around Trinamul Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday after a criminal complaint accusing her of making “anti-national” and “seditious” remarks on “Operation Sindoor” was filed before the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Krishnagar, Nadia.
The complaint, moved by Nadia resident Gouranga Dey, seeks criminal prosecution of the firebrand Krishnagar MP over comments allegedly made during an interview with senior journalist Barkha Dutt, where Ms Moitra reportedly referred to “Operation Sindoor” as a “so-called operation” and questioned details surrounding the military action.
In a strongly worded petition running several pages, the complainant alleged that the MP’s remarks were “rabble-rousing, incendiary and provocative,” capable of damaging the morale of the Indian armed forces and hurting the “collective national resolve” behind the military operation.
The case has added yet another layer of controversy around Ms Moitra, who has remained one of the BJP’s most vocal critics in Parliament and outside. The complaint repeatedly invokes nationalism, military pride and national security, claiming that “Operation Sindoor” symbolised India’s “swift, precise and high-impact response” to terror strikes linked to Pakistan-based groups after the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 Hindu tourists.
The petitioner further argued before the court that immunity available to MPs inside Parliament could not shield statements made during media interactions or public interviews. The complaint also referred to Ms Moitra’s earlier expulsion from the Lok Sabha in the cash-for-query controversy, alleging a “repeated pattern” of conduct allegedly prejudicial to national interests.
The complainant submitted electronic evidence before the court, including a pen drive containing video clips and social media links of the interview, along with a certificate under Section 63A of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam relating to digital evidence.
The petition named the complainant himself, Ms Dutt and others as witnesses in the proposed proceedings and urged the court to initiate criminal prosecution against the Trinamul MP.
Neither Mahua Moitra nor the Trinamul Congress issued an immediate response to the allegations until late tonight.