Lipika Mitra, wife of ex-AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, has filed a criminal defamation case against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Delhi court has postponed the hearing to June 26.
NEW DELHI: Today, on June 12, a Delhi court has postponed the hearing of a criminal defamation case filed by Lipika Mitra, the wife of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Somnath Bharti, against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The hearing will now take place on June 26, as per the order of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal.
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This case arises from a complaint made by Lipika Mitra in which she has accused Nirmala Sitharaman of making public statements about her personal marital dispute with Somnath Bharti. These remarks, she claims, were defamatory in nature and damaged her reputation.
The defamation complaint seeks criminal action against the Union Minister for allegedly making objectionable comments regarding the private and sensitive issues in her marriage.
During the hearing on Thursday, Sitharaman’s lawyer requested the court for more time. Accepting the request, the judge decided to reschedule the matter for later in the month. Accordingly, ACJM Paras Dalal said the matter will now be heard on June 26.
In the same hearing, the judge also issued directions to the complainant’s side. He instructed Lipika Mitra’s counsel to provide a copy of the entire defamation complaint to the legal team representing Nirmala Sitharaman.
This is a necessary step to ensure that the accused party is fully informed of the allegations and can respond accordingly in court.
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The matter has caught public attention due to the political background of the individuals involved.
Somnath Bharti is a former legislator of the Aam Aadmi Party, while Nirmala Sitharaman holds a key position in the Union Cabinet as the Finance Minister of India.
According to legal experts, criminal defamation cases such as this one fall under Section 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). If proven, they can result in imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.
The statements made by Nirmala Sitharaman, which Lipika claims to be defamatory, have not been publicly detailed in court yet.
However, the complaint suggests that these remarks were made in the public domain, allegedly targeting Lipika in the context of her strained relationship with her husband.
The court proceedings are likely to continue over the next few weeks, with the next significant development expected on June 26.
The outcome of this case could have both legal and political implications, considering the stature of the individuals involved.
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The court noted:
“The hearing has been deferred to June 26 on the request of Sitharaman’s counsel.”
It further directed:
“Mitra’s counsel shall provide a copy of the complaint to the opposite party.”
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