New Delhi: The Delhi High Court recently closed a case filed by Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra after being informed that BJP MP Nishikant Dubey removed his alleged defamatory social media post against her.
Moitra moved an application before the court in her pending 2023 defamation case against Dubey and Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, claiming being aggrieved by a post by Dubey on Facebook and a tweet of Dehadrai on social media platform X with the screenshot of Dubey’s post.
What did High Court say?
Justice Manmeet PS Arora said disposed of Moitra’s interim plea after being informed by Dubey’s counsel that the impugned Facebook post by him was deleted.
Dehadrai, who appeared before the court in person, stated that since the Facebook post by Dubey has been deleted, he as well will remove his impugned post.
“In light of the fact that defendant No. 1 (Dubey) has already removed the another post from Facebook and that defendant No. 2 (Dehadrai) has undertaken to remove the impugned post from ‘X’, the relief sought in this application does not survive for consideration,” Justice Manmeet PS Arora said while disposing of Moitra’s interim plea.
BJP MP was provoked by Moitra’s comment by using derogatory words and phrases with innuendos, Dubey’s counsel submitted
Dubey’s counsel contended before the court that the BJP MP was provoked by Moitra’s comment by using words and phrases, which are derogatory and have an inuendo referring to the BJP MP and sought a direction to stop the reference to Dubey with the inuendo of ‘pitbull’ as it has been used in a derogatory manner.
Use of phrase ‘pitbull’ in her comment not intended to refer to Dubey, Moitra’s counsel clarified
Moitra’s counsel clarified that use of the phrase ‘pitbull’ in her comment is not intended to refer to Dubey and stated that she specifically tags Dubey in her social media posts intended for Dubdey and the word ‘pitbull’ used in her comment or any part of her post on her social media handles does not pertain to Dubey.
The High Court took on record the submissions made by Moitra’s counsel and said she is bound down to the same.
Moitra filed a defamation suit against Dubey, Dehadrai in 2023
Moitra had in 2023 filed a defamation case against Dubey and Dehadrai for allegedly making defamatory allegations against her of demanding bribe from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for asking questions in Parliament. She sought to restrain Dubey and Dehadrai from publishing or posting any “false defamatory content” against her on any online or offline platform and a public apology from them.
Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2023 after the Ethics Committee report of the Lok Sabha found her guilty of “unethical conduct” on a complaint made by Dubey.
