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Mumbai: A Mumbai court Wednesday ordered police investigation into a complaint filed against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleging she showed disrespect to the national anthem.
Metropolitan magistrate PI Mokashi ordered the police station at Cuffe Parade to submit its report to the court on April 28.
During the investigation, the police may summon Banerjee to record her statement amongst other evidences before preparing the report, the Court said.
The investigation, as directed by the Magistrate, is to be done for the alleged commission of offence under section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.
The issuance of process against Banerjee was postponed till the receipt of report, the Magistrate held.
The Magistrate’s order came hours after the Bombay High Court dismissed an application filed by Banerjee seeking quashing of the case.
The complaint against Banerjee was filed by BJP Mumbai Secretary Vivekanand Gupta alleging that during a public function at Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium at Cuffe Parade in Mumbai, Banerjee had started singing the National Anthem in the sitting position and later stood up and sung two verses of the anthem before abruptly stopping and leaving the venue.
He claimed that Banerjee’s acts amounted to an insult and disrespect to the National Anthem and an offence punishable under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act of 1971.
Gupta filed a complaint before the Metropolitan Magistrate at Sewree, Mumbai who issued an order summoning Banerjee to appear on March 2, 2022.
Banerjee challenged the same before the Sessions Court which set aside the summons and remanded the matter back to the Magistrate for fresh consideration.
Banerjee has moved the High Court challenging the sessions court order, which the High Court dismissed today.
The Magistrate court then passed the order directing probe against Banerjee.
