Delhi Court Issues Notice To Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman In Defamation Case By AAP Leader's Wife

A Delhi Court yesterday issued notice to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a criminal defamation case filed by Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti's wife.

ACJM Paras Dalal of Rouse Avenue Courts issued notice to Sitharaman for June 12, at 12:30 PM.

“Matter is at the stage of cognizance and in compliance of first proviso to section 223 BNSS, the proposed accused is to be given opportunity of being heard,” the Court said.

The complainant, Lipika Mitra, filed the criminal defamation case alleging commission of offences under Section 356(1) and 356(2) of BNS, 2023 for allegedly making and publishing defamatory, derogatory and libelous remarks in print and electronic media against her.

The complaint alleges that Sitharaman has made defamatory, false, and malicious statements in a press conference published on YouTube, which was broadcasted on Republic TV and NDTV news channels on May 17.

Mitra has alleged that Sitharaman's statements were made by her during the election campaign of Loksabha, 2024, with the sole intention to tarnish her husband's reputation, and weaken his chances of winning from New Delhi Parliamentary Constituency as India Alliance Candidate.

The complaint says that the alleged statements have caused immense mental anguish to Bharti and damaged his public standing as an elected representative.

“The accused deliberately is trying to cause larger damage to the marriage which complainant and her husband have successfully saved and in turn is also causing mental agony not only to the complainant and her husband but also to their children. The accused thus attempted to, tarnish the reputation of the Complainant's husband and damage his social standing and goodwill in the society,” the complaint reads.