An FIR has been registered against Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra under section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by Delhi Police Special Cell after the lawmaker made derogatory remark against National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma, a few days ago.
The development took place after the NCW had complaint against Moitra and sought action against her for making objectionanble remark 'holding up her boss' pyjamas' against Rekha Sharma.
Moitra made the remark on social media platform X but later deleted her post. The cops are now contacting X to seek information about the comment posted by the TMC lawmaker.
Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sahita -- new criminal laws -- is imposed in the crime related to section 79 of the Indian Penal Code (BNS (word, gesture or act intended to insult the dignity of a woman).
This was the first FIR registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita by the Delhi Police's Special Cell since it came into force on July 1.
TMC leader commented on a video posted on X that showed Sharma arriving at the site of a stampede in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on July 4. Moitra later deleted the post, which referred to a man holding an umbrella and walking behind the National Commission for Women (NCW) chief.
Reacting to the development, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla asked what was stopping TMC chief Mamata Banerjee from sacking Moitra. A senior officer said the FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint to the police commissioner by the NCW.
"The commission is mandated to monitor and look into the matters relating to deprivation of women's rights… and provide protection to women," the officer said, referring to the FIR's contents.
Saying the NCW took suo motu cognisance of Moitra's "derogatory remarks", the FIR stated, "The crude remarks made by Moitra are extremely outrageous and a sheer violation of a women's right to live with dignity.
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According to the officer, the commission observed that the remark attracted Section 79 of the BNS (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman).
"The commission strongly condemns the defamatory remarks made by Moitra.
Therefore, you are requested to take strict action against Moitra … A detailed action-taken report may be communicated to the commission within three days," the FIR stated.
Moitra's now-deleted comment drew a sharp response from the BJP, with the saffron party demanding that she be "sacked" from the TMC.
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