Babul won't appear before Kolkata Police on Thursday

BJP MP and Union Minister Babul Supriyo on Wednesday expressed his inability to appear at the Alipore police station on Thursday in connection with a complaint lodged against him by a Trinamool Congress MLA.

Mahua Moitra, the MLA, alleged in her complaint that Supriyo made derogatory comments with an intent to insult her.

"I will be out of Kolkata for prior engagements in Asansol. I will not be able to make it on 12th Jan 2017, as requested by you," Supriyo wrote in response to a notice issued to him by the city police for appearing at the Alipore police station.

The Union Minister has been booked under Section 509 of the IPC (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) following the FIR lodged by Moitra on January 4.

"You are hereby requested to appear at the Alipore Police Sation on 12.01.2017 at 12.00 hrs positively for the purpose of investigation," the notice said.

The Trinamool leader lodged police complaint against Supriyo for allegedly insulting her modesty twice on a national television.

"During my speech, Babul Supriyo asked 'Mahua, are you on Mahua' (Mahua are you inebriated). He asked me twice on a national television," she said.

--IANS

mgr/ssp/nir/dg