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News Desk: Summon issued to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee by a metropolitan magistrate’s court in Mumbai on a complaint filed by a BJP Mumbai secretary, lawyer Vivekanand Gupta for allegedly “disrespecting” the national anthem during a public function at Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan Auditorium in Mumbai.
“It is prima facie evident from the complaint, verification statement of the complainant, video clip in the DVD and video clips on Youtube links that the accused had sung National Anthem and stopped abruptly and left the dias which prima facie prove that the accused has committed punishable under section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971” Metropolitan Magistrate P I Mokashi said in the order passed on Tuesday.
The magistrate’s court said since it was not a government function nor an official event, a sanction is not required to proceed against Banerjee in the case.
“…though the accused is Chief Minister of West Bengal, she was not discharging her official duties. Thereby this act of accused…does not come under her official duty. Therefore, sanction is not required and there is no bar to proceed against accused” the court said.
It further stated that prima facie evidence brought on record is sufficient to proceed against her as per provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code. Banerjee has been given time till March 2 to respond to the summons.
