BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, Lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai Remove 'Defamatory' Post Against Mahua Moitra, Delhi High Court Closes Plea

The Delhi High Court has closed a plea filed by Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra against allegedly defamatory social media post made against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora disposed of the application after Dubey's counsel informed the Court that the impugned post on Facebook has been deleted.

Dehadrai, appearing in person, submitted that he will also take down the post from his X handle.

“In light of the fact that defendant No. 1 has already removed the another post from Facebook and that defendant No. 2 has undertaken to remove the impugned post from 'X', the relief sought in this application does not survive for consideration. The application is hereby disposed of,” the Court said.

The application was filed in the context of a quote tweet made by Dehadrai on X platform saying “Bombshell development in the Lokpal case filed by Dr. Nishikant Dubey MP.”

Dubey in his Facebook post had written that CBI has filed a case with Lokpal regarding all of Moitra's alleged foreign accounts and expenses and that he has received a “letter” recently regarding the same.

Dubey's counsel submitted that Dubey was provoked by Mahua's comment which was derogatory in nature and that she must be directed to stop the reference to bim with the inuendo of 'pitbull'.

Moitra's counsel then clarified that the word 'pitbull' used in the comment or any part of her post on her social media handles do not pertain to Dubey.

“The statement of the plaintiff is taken on record and she is bound down to the same,” the Court said.

Considering that Moitra categorically disowned the comment of pitbull qua Dubey, the Court said that no directions were required to be issued on that aspect.

Background

The fresh application was filed by Moitra in her defamation case against Dubey in Dehadrai. The suit was filed in 2023 over “false and defamatory allegations” against her that she demanded exchange of bribe for asking questions in Parliament. It is listed next on July 17.

Moitra sought to restrain Dubey, Dehadrai and media from publishing or posting any “false defamatory content” against her on any online or offline platform. She also sought public apology from Dubey and Dehradrai in three English, Hindi and Bengali newspapers each.

In the interim, Moitra had sought an ex-parte ad-interim injunction against the defendants and removal of the allegedly defamatory content posted against her on social media, including photos, videos, letters and publications. until the disposal of the suit.

In March last year, a coordinate bench dismissed Mahua's application for interim injunction observing that prima facie, it cannot be said that the allegations in the communications addressed by Dubey and Dehadrai against Moitra were false, unsubstantiated or made with reckless disregard towards the truth.

The dispute arose after Dubey wrote a complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker alleging that Moitra purportedly took bribes to ask questions in the Parliament. Dubey claimed that the genesis of the said allegations was a letter addressed to him by Dehadrai.

Moitra had then sent a legal notice to Dubey, Dehadrai and media houses wherein she denied the allegations made against her.

The legal notice added that Moitra has never accepted any remuneration or cash or gift or benefit of any kind in relation to the discharge of her duties as a MP, including but not limited to, the questions raised by her in the Parliament.

Tile: MAHUA MOITRA v. NISHIKANT DUBEY & ORS.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 535

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