Delhi HC Rejects Mahua Moitra’s Plea Seeking Relief Against Defamatory Content

The Delhi High Court rejected Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra’s plea on Monday, which sought to restrain BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and lawyer Jai Dehadrai from disseminating “fake and defamatory” content about her.

Justice Sachin Datta, pronouncing the order, stated, “I have dismissed the injunction application.”

In December, while reserving the verdict on Mahua’s plea, the court had also instructed the counsels for Dubey and Dehadrai to submit relevant paragraphs from the Lok Sabha ethics committee report regarding the issue. This directive was given due to a discrepancy between the parties concerning the expelled leader receiving cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani as part of a “quid pro quo.”

The expelled TMC MP had filed a suit seeking a permanent restraining order against Dubey and Dehadrai, along with various media organizations, to prevent them from making, publishing, and circulating defamatory, false, and malicious statements aimed at damaging her reputation.

She also sought to direct Dehadrai to withdraw the letter dated October 14, 2023, written to Dubey. In the interim plea, she urged the court to restrain Dubey and Dehadrai from making, posting, uploading, or distributing any false defamatory content and sought the removal of alleged defamatory content posted against her on social media, including photos, videos, letters, and publications.

Dubey, represented by advocate Abhimanyu Bhandari, argued that Moitra herself admitted to sharing her login ID and password with Hiranandani in the press. He claimed that there was a quid pro quo between the expelled leader and the businessman.

Dehadrai, represented by senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose, argued that there was truth in the October 14 letter, citing the Lok Sabha ethics committee’s report, which stated that the allegations of Mahua accepting illegal gratification from Hiranandani were established and undeniable.

Moitra, represented by advocate Samudra Sarangi, contended that the October 14 letter, made public for political gains, was intended to tarnish her image. The counsel argued that the letter contained defamatory statements and was part of a larger political controversy. Moitra also maintained that the allegations of quid pro quo between her and Hiranandani were not proven.

The TMC MP from Krishnanagar was expelled on December 8 over cash-for-query charges. She alleged “substantial illegality” and “arbitrariness” by the House’s ethics committee, which recommended the action against her.

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