A Delhi court is set to hear a criminal defamation complaint filed by Lipika Mitra, wife of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The complaint, which will come up for hearing on Thursday, stems from allegedly defamatory statements made by Sitharaman during a press conference on May 17, 2023.
According to Mitra, the Union Minister’s remarks — broadcast widely across national television — were not only false and malicious, but also intended to harm Bharti’s public image and electoral prospects. Bharti was contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the New Delhi constituency as a candidate of the INDIA bloc.
The case is being heard in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Paras Dalal. At an earlier hearing, the judge granted Sitharaman’s legal counsel additional time to file a vakalatnama (authorization of legal representation) and review the complaint’s contents. The court also directed Mitra’s legal team to submit a soft copy of the complaint along with a video link of the press conference in question.
In her plea, Mitra alleged that Sitharaman’s statements were made with the deliberate intent of damaging Bharti’s candidacy and causing “immense mental anguish.” She claimed that the remarks inflicted not only reputational harm but also “irreparable emotional distress” to her and the couple’s two minor children.
Highlighting Bharti’s credentials as an IIT Delhi alumnus with a global network, Mitra argued that the defamatory statements had international ramifications for his reputation.
“The defamatory acts of the accused continue to cause enduring damage unless they are retracted or an apology is issued,” the complaint reads.
Mitra has requested the court to take cognisance of the alleged offences and summon Sitharaman for trial. She has also sought an injunction to prevent further circulation of similar statements and urged the court to direct the removal of the original content from all platforms.
