West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee summoned by Mumbai Court for disrespecting national anthem

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According to sources, a Mumbai Court has summoned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to be present before the Court on March 2 on allegations of disrespecting the National Anthem of India.

The complaint has been filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary Vivekananda Gupta who has sought for an FIR to be registered against the Chief Minister stating that she has allegedly disrespected the National Anthem during her visit to Bombay. Gupta approached the 25th Court, Mazgaon at Sewree under Section 3 of Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act 1971. Gupta has alleged that Banerjee sang the anthem in a sitting position and then "abruptly stopping after 4 or 5 verses."

The Court noted that prima facie from the video evidence, Banerjee seems to have acted in breach of Section 3 of the Act. Further, the Court noted that, 

"Though the accused is the chief minister of West Bengal, she was not discharging her official duties (during the event in Mumbai). Thereby, this act of the accused, though she is the chief minister of West Bengal, does not come under her official duty. Therefore, sanction is not required and there is no bar to proceed against the accused."