A Delhi court dismissed a criminal defamation complaint filed by Lipika Mitra, wife of former AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The court ruled that there were no grounds to proceed with the complaint, stating a lack of basis to take cognisance of the allegations. Mitra’s complaint accused Sitharaman of making defamatory statements about her marital life during a press conference in May 2024.
The complaint alleged that Sitharaman’s statements, widely circulated on TV and digital platforms, aimed to harm Bharti’s public image and electoral chances as an INDIA Bloc candidate. Mitra claimed that the remarks caused Bharti significant distress and damaged his reputation nationally and internationally, given his background as an IIT Delhi alumnus with a broad global network. Seeking legal action, Mitra requested the court to summon Sitharaman for trial and prevent similar statements in the future.
Mitra alleged that Sitharaman violated Sections 356(1) and 356(2) of the BNS, 2023, by making and publishing defamatory remarks in the media. However, the court, after reviewing the evidence, concluded that the case did not meet the necessary threshold for taking action on the alleged offenses and dismissed the complaint.
