New Delhi,April 01,2026: A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed a criminal defamation complaint against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The court said no prima facie case was made and termed the complaint worthless.
The Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the complaint and said the necessary ingredients of criminal defamation were not found in the case.
The complaint was filed by Lipika Mitra, wife of AAP leader Somnath Bharti. She alleged that Sitharaman made defamatory remarks during a press conference before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to the complaint, the statements were widely broadcast on television and social media and damaged Bharti’s reputation and electoral prospects.
The statements referred to allegations that Bharti assaulted his wife during her pregnancy and was also accused of violence against a journalist in 2018. Sitharaman mentioned these allegations while questioning Bharti’s candidature in the Lok Sabha elections.
However, the court observed that the statements were part of political discourse between rival political parties. The court said the press conference was aimed at targeting opposition parties and discussing issues related to women safety and representation in the Lok Sabha from Delhi.
The court also pointed out deficiencies in the complaint. It noted that the complaint did not clearly establish the individual identity and background of the complainant. It also found inconsistencies in witness statements, noting that none specifically identified the allegedly defamatory remarks.
While the court acknowledged that the press conference took place and was widely broadcast, it found that no statement was made directly against Lipika Mitra. The court stated that Sitharaman was repeating allegations that were already in the public domain through news reports and legal records.
The court concluded that the statements were not false or fabricated and dismissed the complaint, stating that it lacked merit.
