Delhi Court Sets June 26 For Hearing Lipika Mitra's Defamation Complaint Against Nirmala Sitharaman

The complaint alleged that Sitharaman made “defamatory, false, and malicious statements” about the couple’s marriage in a press conference on May 17, 2024.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal adjourned the matter upon the request of Sitharaman’s counsel, who sought time to file vakalatnama and to peruse a copy of the complaint.

The Court directed Mitra’s side to provide a soft copy of the complaint alongside a link to the video of the allegedly defamatory interview.

“Time sought by the proposed accused side to file vakalatnama. Although the summons have been received back duly served. The proposed accused side has sought a copy of the complaint. The complainant side agrees to supply a soft copy of the same along with the link of the purported defamatory material/interview. Matter be fixed for consideration/arguments on June 26, 2025," the Court said in its order dated June 12. 

The complaint alleged that Sitharaman made these statements with the “intent to harm the reputation” of Bharti and undermine his electoral prospects in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, adding that the Union Minister deliberately kept from the public the fact that the couple had reconciled and were “living together happily.”

According to Mitra, the purpose of the comments was “to damage the reputation of the complainant and her husband solely for political gains to the BJP’s candidate and political losses to the complainant’s husband during the 2024 Lok Sabha election.”

The court will now consider arguments on the matter on June 26, 2025.

Pertinently, on May 19, the Delhi Court took cognizance of the complaint and issued notice to Nirmala Sitharaman, directing her to appear on June 12. The magistrate had observed that the proposed accused must be given an opportunity to be heard.