Mamata Banerjee Allegedly Disrespected National Anthem, Summoned By Mumbai Court

Mumbai: 

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has today been issued a summons by a Mumbai court that directed her to appear before it on March 2 for allegedly disrespecting the national anthem during her visit to the city in December 2021. The Chief Minister had allegedly not stood up when the national anthem was played at the event she was attending.

Although Mamata Banerjee is a Chief Minister, “a sanction is not required and there is no bar to proceed against the accused” since she was not discharging her official duty, the court said.

Mumbai BJP unit functionary Vivekanand Gupta had approached the metropolitan magistrates’ court in December 2021 with a complaint, accusing Mamata Banerjee of disrespecting the national anthem. He also demanded that an FIR be registered against her.