Abhijit Iyer Mitra Moves Delhi High Court to Reject Newslaundry Defamation Suit Over Defamatory Tweets
Mitra Seeks Dismissal of Defamation Case Filed by Newslaundry
Abhijit Iyer-Mitra has approached the Delhi High Court seeking dismissal of a defamation suit filed against him by nine women employees of digital news platform Newslaundry. The plaintiffs have alleged that Mitra posted defamatory content targeting them on the social media platform X.
Mitra has moved the Court under Order VII Rule 11 of the Code of Civil Procedure, seeking rejection of the plaint at the preliminary stage. He has also filed an accompanying application seeking condonation of delay in filing the plea.
When the matter came up before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, it was adjourned to February 26, 2026, on Mitra’s request.
The defamation suit, filed by Newslaundry journalists including Managing Editor Manisha Pande, alleges that Mitra used sexually abusive and defamatory language in posts targeting them. In an earlier hearing in the same suit, the Court had expressed strong disapproval of the tone and language used in the tweets.
After reviewing the material, Justice Kaurav had remarked that such content could not be defended under any circumstances, stating, “You should have immediately taken down this kind of language. The choice of words was unacceptable in a civilised society. Unless he takes down this language, he will not be heard.” The Court had directed immediate takedown of the impugned content.
On 10 September, Pande and other women journalists filed a fresh petition seeking removal of additional allegedly defamatory tweets posted by Mitra. During that hearing, the Court refrained from passing any immediate orders and observed, “Let the matter be pending, in order to see how Mitra behaves. If there is any repeated recurrence on his part, we will consider. Today, we are not passing any order.”
The Court recorded that the hearing of the application would remain deferred for the time being.
Case Title: Manisha Pande and Ors v. Abhijit Iyer Mitra and Anr
Bench: Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav
Hearing: 28 November 2025