A magistrate pronounced the order today after giving extensively hearing the complainant, BJP Mumbai Secretary Vivekanand Gupta, who alleged that Banerjee disrespected the national anthem during an event in Mumbai.
A complaint filed in Mumbai against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging disrespect to the national anthem, was dismissed by a Mumbai court on Monday. Vivekanand Gupta, the Mumbai Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had accused Banerjee of starting to sing the National Anthem while seated at a public event in Mumbai’s Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium, standing up briefly, and then leaving the venue abruptly.
Metropolitan Court Judge SB Kale presided over the case, stating, “The complainant was physically present, and after hearing the arguments, the judge ruled to dismiss the complaint today.” As of now, a complete order for the ruling has not been made available.
Gupta had contended that Banerjee’s actions constituted an affront to the National Anthem and a violation of the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act of 1971. Subsequently, he filed a complaint with the Metropolitan Magistrate of Mazgaon, who issued a summons for Banerjee to appear on March 2, 2022.
Banerjee challenged the summons before the Sessions Court, which invalidated it and referred the matter back to the Magistrate for a fresh evaluation. Banerjee then sought a review of the session court’s decision from the High Court, but the High Court also dismissed the case on March 29, 2023.
On the same day, March 29, 2023, the magistrate court directed the Cuffe Parade police to investigate the complaint and submit a report by April 28. This investigation was initiated in response to allegations of a violation of Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.
The magistrate postponed the issuance of any legal proceedings against Banerjee pending the receipt of the aforementioned report. Now, the judge has officially dismissed the complaint.
