Mahua Moitra Moves Court To Restrain Media, Delhi HC Asks 'How Press Knows Your Case Is Coming?'

Moitra had filed petition seeking directions restraining media houses and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from publishing or leaking sensitive and unverified information

Moitra lost her Membership of Lok Sabha following an enquiry by the Ethics committee that found her guilty of taking cash for raising queries in the Parliament

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked former MP and Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra's as how the media knows about her case coming up in the court today. Moitra had filed petition seeking directions restraining media houses and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from publishing or leaking sensitive and unverified information to the media regarding the central agency's investigation into her alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Maintenance Act, 1999 (FEMA).

A bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad reserved order and is likely to pronounce order on Friday.

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 has submitted in the court that Moitra has been asked to give a lot of sensitive material to the investigation agency and she fears that if she submits 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 dismissed Moitra's plea 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 allegedly accepted gifts and other favours from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in return for asking questions targeting his business rival Gautam Adani.