Delhi HC Junks Mahua Moitra's Plea Seeking Media Gag In FEMA Investigation

The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition filed by TMC leader Mahua Moitra to restrain media from publishing and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from "leaking" sensitive and unverified information

Moitra's petition named prominent media houses and newspapers and sought directions from the court that all news reporting and publication against her should be inline with official press releases that may be issued by ED

The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former MP Mahua Moitra to restrain media from publishing and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from "leaking" sensitive and unverified information about the agency’s investigation against her for an alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Maintenance Act, 1999 (FEMA).

Moitra's petition named prominent media houses and newspapers and sought directions from the court that all news reporting and publication against her should be inline with official press releases that may be issued by ED. She also asked the court to restrain the media from playing up any information related to the ongoing FEMA investigation.

Her petition sought restriction on the ED from giving out any “confidential or unverified information” to the media in relation to the pending investigation. The former MP has alleged that the ED wants her to go through media-trial which will have severe consequences to the ongoing investigation and her reputation.

A bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad had reserved order on Thursday pronounced it on Friday.

Earlier, on Thursday the court had asked Moitra's as how the media knows about her case coming up in the court today. 

Senior advocate Rebecca John appeared for Moitra and told the court that summons reached her client after they were played up in media. The judge however, remarked that Moitra is a public personality, so it becomes news. 

"How does press know your matter is coming up in High Court today?" Justice Prasad asked.

John told the bench that Moitra has been asked to submit sensitive material to the investigation agency and she fears that if she provides that, it may be leaked to the press.

The counsel appearing for the ED denied these allegations and told the court that there has been no such leak and no press release has been issued by them. 

On January 18, the Delhi High Court had also dismissed Moitra's petition seeking to restrain the authorities from evicting her from the government bungalow on cancellation of her allotment following her expulsion from Lok Sabha. 

In December 2023, Moitra lost her Lok Sabha membership following an enquiry by the Ethics committee that found her guilty of taking cash for raising queries in the Parliament. Moitra was accused of accepting gifts and other favours from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in return for asking questions targeting his business rival Gautam Adani in the Parliament.