New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (August 7) declined to entertain a petition by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Mitra seeking directions to appear virtually before police. Mitra had expressed concern in her petition that eggs may be pelted on her in case she goes to the police station, reported Bar and Bench.

However, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu brushed off the concerns of the MP.

"You are a member of parliament? Having taken the plunge into politics, you fear eggs? When our freedom fighters have taken bullets on their chest? These are applications that should not come before this court at all," said Justice Datta.

The case against Krishnanagar MP Moitra for which she has to appear before the West Bengal police was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by a BJP leader over remarks made by her in two videos posted on social media, after supporters of the BJP allegedly gathered outside a court in Krishnanagar carrying eggs and tomatoes to throw at her.

Earlier, the Calcutta high court had granted interim protection to Moitra on her petition seeking quashing of the FIR and directed her to appear before the investigating officer (IO) on August 14.

Appearing for Moitra, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan said that the MP should be allowed to appear before the IO through video conferencing, a request that was questioned by the apex court.

"Why virtually? Because you are an MP?" asked the court.

"I have a legal right under law. The requirement as per the police notice is to be at the police station in my own constituency. Last time I went there, two things happened. First there were threats that eggs will be thrown etc and second time eggs were actually thrown," said Sankaranarayanan, adding that Moitra was apprehending a mob attack in case she physically appears before the police.

But the court was not convinced with the submission and said that the high court has already told Moitra to cooperate with the investigation agency, reported Bar and Bench.

"Read para 19 of the impugned order. You don’t appear. And then face the music before the high court. If you are aggrieved, then come," said the top court.

Thereafter, Sankaranarayanan sought to withdraw the plea and accordingly, the petition was dismissed as withdrawn.

Last month, Moitra had put out visuals, reporting how while in her constituency, she had to face an attack with stones and eggs by persons outside where she was holding a party meeting, carrying BJP flags. TMC leaders Abhishek Banerjee and Kunal Ghosh have also had eggs thrown at them.

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