Delhi Court to Hear Lipika Mitra's Defamation Suit Against FM Sitharaman

• Lipika Mitra accuses FM Sitharaman of making false, damaging remarks about her marriage during a 2023 press conference.
• Mitra alleges the statements were aimed at harming Somnath Bharti’s electoral chances in the New Delhi constituency.
• The court has asked for video evidence and may summon Sitharaman; Mitra seeks retraction, apology, and content takedown.

A Delhi court will hear a criminal defamation case filed by Lipika Mitra, wife of ex-AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The case relates to allegedly defamatory remarks made by Sitharaman at a press conference on May 17 last year, which, as per Mitra, were made against her and her husband's marriage.

Mitra claims that the remarks were telecast on national television channels with a motive of tarnishing Bharti's public image and poll prospects. Bharti had fought the recent general elections from the New Delhi constituency as part of the INDIA group.

The issue is now pending before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal, who had earlier granted Sitharaman's lawyers extra time to file a vakalatnama (lawful authorisation) and go through the contents of the complaint. The court also ordered Mitra's lawyers to produce a soft copy of the complaint and a link to the press conference in question in video format.

In her plea, Mitra contends that the Union Minister’s remarks were aimed at sabotaging Bharti’s electoral chances and have caused significant mental distress to their family. She emphasized that the statements not only hurt Bharti’s political reputation but also inflicted severe emotional trauma on her and their two young children.

The complaint further highlights Bharti’s professional standing as an IIT Delhi alumnus with international recognition, arguing that the reputational harm has extended beyond India.

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"The defamatory actions of the accused continue to have a lasting negative impact unless they are formally retracted or addressed with a public apology," Mitra stated.

She has pleaded the court to consider the alleged offences, call Sitharaman to trial, and grant an injunction restraining her from publishing or distributing similar defamatory material in the future. Mitra also sought the removal of all existing defamatory material from media and internet platforms.