The complaint against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly disrespecting the national anthem has reached a new stage as a Mumbai court ordered an inquiry into the matter on Wednesday. The court asked the Cuff Parade police station to investigate the allegations and submit a report by April 28.
The complaint was filed by a local BJP leader who claimed that Banerjee did not stand up immediately when the anthem was played at an event in December 2021. He also alleged that she sang it while sitting and then left the venue abruptly. Banerjee had challenged the summons issued by the magistrate’s court in the Bombay High Court, but her plea was dismissed by Justice Amit Borkar.
She had argued that the complaint should have been quashed by the sessions court, which had earlier sent the matter back to the magistrate’s court for inquiry. Banerjee faces a possible case under the Prevention of Insults to the National Honour Act, which prescribes imprisonment for up to three years or fine or both for anyone who intentionally prevents or causes disturbance to any assembly or meeting engaged in singing or playing the national anthem.
