New Delhi, April 1, 2026
A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed a criminal defamation complaint filed by Lipika Mitra, wife of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal of the Rouse Avenue Court declined to proceed with the complaint, holding that no grounds were made out to take cognisance of the allegations.
“I do not see anything in this matter to proceed further and I am denying cognisance,” the judge said while rejecting the plea.
The complaint, filed by Mitra, had alleged that Sitharaman made defamatory, false and malicious statements concerning her marital life with Bharti during a press conference held on May 17, 2024, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
Mitra had contended that the remarks were widely broadcast on television and digital platforms with the intent to tarnish her husband’s public image and adversely impact his electoral prospects as an INDIA Bloc candidate from the New Delhi parliamentary constituency.
According to the plea, the alleged statements caused Bharti immense mental anguish and inflicted reputational damage not only within India but also internationally, given his status as an IIT Delhi alumnus with a wide global network.
Seeking legal recourse, Mitra had urged the court to summon Sitharaman for trial and to restrain her from making or circulating similar statements in the future, along with directions for removal of the purportedly defamatory content from various platforms.
The complainant alleged commission of offences under Sections 356(1) and 356(2) of the BNS, 2023, for allegedly making and publishing defamatory, derogatory, and libelous remarks in print and electronic media against her.
However, after considering the material placed on record, the court held that the case did not meet the threshold required for taking cognisance of the alleged offences and dismissed the complaint.(Agency)
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