WB terms plea seeking president's rule 'bundle of reckless allegations'

Under Section 15 of the Contempt of Court Act , 1971, a contempt petition by a citizen, other than a party to a case where the court has passed an order and which has been disobeyed, can be filed in the SC only after obtaining prior consent in writing from either the attorney general or the solicitor general.

Agnihotri's 2021 petition had alleged that immediately after the TMC govt was re-elected, Hindus were being targeted by Muslims to take revenge for their support for BJP. "Soon after the declaration of result on May 2, 2021, Trinamool Congress workers and supporters started creating chaos, unrest and setting houses and properties of Hindus on fire, looting and plundering their belongings for the reason that they had supported BJP in the assembly election."

Advocate Jain requested Justice BR Gavai-led bench to permit him to file additional documents relating to the recent spate of violence resulting in Hindus fleeing their houses in Murshidabad.

West Bengal govt in its response termed the petition a bundle of "reckless allegations" being used as a tool to create communal tension in the state by insulting certain religious groups and beliefs. It said the petitioner, despite being earlier indicted by Allahabad HC for lying, had again indulged in blatant falsehood to create fear psychosis by alleging that illegal Bangladeshi Muslim migrants and Rohingya Muslims in the state were committing acts of violence against Hindus.