AAP leader Somnath Bharti’s wife files case against Nirmala Sitharaman

A Delhi court yesterday issued notice to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in a criminal defamation case filed by Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti’s wife. ACJM Paras Dalal of Rouse Avenue Court issued notice to Sitharaman for 12 June at 12:30 pm. The court said the matter is at the cognizance stage and in compliance with the first provision of section 223 BNSS, the proposed accused should be given an opportunity of being heard. The complainant Lipika Mitra has filed a criminal defamation case alleging the commission of offences under sections 356(1) and 356(2) of the BNS, 2023. It is alleged that Sitharaman has made defamatory, false and malicious statements in a press conference published on YouTube, which was telecast on Republic TV and NDTV News channels on May 17, for making and publishing derogatory, insulting and defamatory comments against her in the print and electronic media. Mitra has alleged that the statements made by Sitharaman during the Lok Sabha elections 2024 were with the sole purpose of tarnishing the reputation of her husband and undermining his prospects of winning from the New Delhi parliamentary constituency as the India Alliance candidate. The complaint states that the alleged statements have caused immense mental agony to Bharti and damaged her public reputation as an elected representative. The accused is deliberately trying to cause further damage to the marriage which the complainant and her husband have successfully saved and in turn is causing mental agony not only to the complainant and her husband but also to their children.