Will Remove ‘Fake Degree Man’ Tweet Against Nishikant Dubey: TMC MP Mahua Moitra Tells Delhi HC
Delhi High Court records Mahua Moitra’s undertaking to remove her “fake degree” tweet and Subhash Chandra Garg’s request to block a “blackmailer” remark in Dubey’s defamation suit.
Mahua Moitra agrees to remove tweet against Nishikant Dubey.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that she would remove her tweet describing BJP MP Nishikant Dubey as a "fake degree kism ke aadmi".
Former finance secretary Subhash Chandra Garg also agreed to request a podcaster to block a portion of a video in which he allegedly described Dubey as a person who resorts to blackmail.
The statements were made during the hearing of a defamation suit filed by Dubey against both Moitra and Garg over the latter's remarks in a podcast and the former's subsequent tweet amplifying them.
The dispute pertains to Garg's allegations that Dubey had visited his office in 2018 and attempted to exert pressure on him in matters concerning the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), transfers and contracts. Dubey has denied the allegations.
Justice Tushar Rao Gedela recorded the statements made on behalf of Moitra and Garg.
The statements came after the court objected to the use of the word ‘blackmailer’ to describe a person, terming it "absolutely derogatory".
The judge added that the court could put its objection in writing and observed that the other statements in question were debatable, but did not consider them intemperate.
Court issued summons to Moitra and Garg.
Advocate Samudra Sarangi, appearing for Moitra and Garg, told the court that the dispute between Moitra and Dubey was political in nature. He submitted that Moitra would remove the particular tweet but would retain her right to question Dubey’s educational qualifications.
The disputed tweet and remark
The tweet shared a video of Garg making remarks about Dubey. Moitra had written: "Yeh blackmailing kism ke aadmi hai”… yes 100% correct [@Subhashgarg1960]. Fake degree kism ke aadmi bhi. Don’t fear his defamation/ Lokpal/ ED/CBI threats - tell him to blow his pipe till he bursts. Well done, Sir for speaking the truth. Respect".
Court had asked Sarangi to obtain instructions on removing the posts.
During the hearing, Sarangi submitted that Garg had made the remarks in the context of a podcast discussion on GDP figures and that his comments about Dubey came after the BJP MP had made personal remarks against him.
He also argued that Dubey would have to establish that he had a stronger claim to credibility to obtain an injunction.
After Dubey’s counsel showed the court the video containing the “blackmailer” remark, the judge told Garg’s counsel that the portion should either be blocked or the court would pass an order.
Defamation case
The dispute between Dubey and Garg intensified after Garg publicly questioned the Centre’s reported 7.8% GDP growth figure for the first quarter.
Dubey responded by reviving his criticism of Garg’s tenure as a senior finance ministry bureaucrat and sharing a March 2018 letter in which he had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review Garg’s macroeconomic policy framework.
Garg subsequently made allegations about Dubey’s alleged visit to his office and his purported attempts to exert pressure in matters concerning the LIC, transfers and contracts. Dubey denied the allegations and sent Garg a legal notice demanding an unconditional apology.
After Garg responded to the legal notice, Dubey filed the defamation suit against him. Moitra was also sued over her tweet amplifying Garg’s remarks and describing Dubey as a person with a “fake degree”.