Supreme Court declines to stay HC order directing Mahua Moitra to join probe

The Supreme Court bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu declined to interfere with a High Court directive requiring Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra to join an investigation. The court made pointed remarks questioning why there was fear around participating in the political process, invoking the imagery of freedom fighters facing bullets. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing Moitra, argued that she should be permitted to appear before the investigating officer virtually, citing legal provisions allowing such an option. The bench, however, was not inclined to grant relief from the High Court's existing direction. The matter pertains to Moitra's obligation to cooperate with an ongoing investigation.