Delhi Court To Hear Newslaundry Editor Manisha Pande’s FIR Plea Against Abhijit Iyer Mitra On June 4
Delhi court adjourned hearing in Newslaundry editor Manisha Pande’s plea seeking FIR against Abhijit Iyer Mitra over alleged abusive and sexually coloured remarks
A Delhi Court on Friday adjourned the hearing in a plea filed by Newslaundry Editorial Director Manisha Pande seeking registration of an FIR against commentator Abhijit Iyer Mitra over alleged abusive and sexually coloured remarks made on social media targeting her and other women employees of the media platform.
The matter was taken up before Additional Sessions Judge Purshotam Pathak.
During the hearing, the Court noted that an electronic case record (ECR) had been received.
Senior Advocate Nandita Rao appeared on behalf of the State (Delhi Police).
The Court also recorded that none appeared on behalf of the revisionist when the matter was called out.
The case pertains to a revision application filed by Pande challenging earlier proceedings relating to her request for registration of an FIR against Mitra.
At the hearing, Senior Advocate Rao requested the Court to take up the matter on June 6 citing personal difficulty.
However, the Court declined the request.
“I cannot pass orders on the last working day,” the judge observed while refusing to adjourn the matter beyond the proposed schedule. The Court ultimately adjourned the matter to June 4 for hearing arguments on the revision application.
The plea concerns allegations that abusive and sexually coloured remarks were made against Pande and other women employees associated with Newslaundry through social media posts allegedly published by Mitra.
Notably, on May 22, the Court had refused to urgently take up a plea filed by Pande. The matter was mentioned before Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Purshotam Pathak after the Delhi High Court on had set aside a sessions court order that had stayed a magistrate’s earlier direction to register an FIR against Mitra. Justice Girish Kathpalia remanded the matter back to the sessions court for fresh consideration.
The magistrate’s order that was stayed on May 4, had allowed registration of an FIR on Pande’s complaint, holding that Mitra’s posts on social media platform X amounted to “sexually coloured remarks” intended to insult the modesty of the complainant. The court had observed that the allegations disclosed cognizable offences under Sections 75(3) and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. “On perusal of the material placed on record, this Court is of the view that the content posted by the accused qualifies as sexually coloured remarks and appears intended to insult the modesty of the complainant. Therefore, on perusal of the application and the material placed on record by the complainant, this Court is of the view that the content of the tweets posted by the accused on “X” platform discloses commission of cognizable offences under section 75(3) and 79 of BNS,” the court noted, adding that Pande had been specifically named in at least one of the tweets.
The journalists have also approached the Delhi High Court with separate civil proceedings seeking damages of ₹2 crore, a public apology, and a permanent injunction against Iyer-Mitra, alleging a sustained campaign of defamation and harassment. In May 2025, the High Court had recorded Iyer-Mitra’s undertaking to delete certain posts, though the defamation suit remains pending.
Interestingly, in November 2025, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra had 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 had 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.
On September 10, 2025, the High Court had orally remarked that the recent tweets by Abhijit Iyer-Mitra were not defamatory while hearing a fresh petition filed by Newslaundry’s Managing Editor Manisha Pande and other women journalists.
Case Title: Abhijit Iyer Mitra v. State (NCT of Delhi) and Ors.
Bench: Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Purushottam Pathak
Hearing Date: May 29, 2026