Court imposes ₹5,000 fines on Somnath Bharti's spouse for defamation lawsuit against Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi court.
In a recent court hearing on July 16, 2025, a Delhi court imposed a fine of ₹5,000 on Lipika Mitra, wife of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti, for her non-appearance in a defamation suit she filed against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The defamation suit, named Lipika Mitra v. Nirmala Sitharaman, was filed in a Delhi court following allegations that Sitharaman made false and malicious statements during a press conference on May 17, 2024, which were intended to damage the reputation of Somnath Bharti and weaken his chances in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Despite the convenience of both parties being considered in scheduling the hearing, no one appeared on behalf of Mitra, either in person or via video conferencing. The court granted Mitra one last opportunity to file a reply and make arguments in the case, which is now scheduled for August 2, 2025.
It is important to note that Sitharaman did not contest the defamation suit in court. The court's decision today is related to Mitra's non-appearance in her own defamation suit. The court's decision is not related to the merits of the defamation suit itself, which is still ongoing as the defamation suit filed by Lipika Mitra against Nirmala Sitharaman has not been fully resolved.
Somnath Bharti was not present in the court today. The court's decision today is a significant development in the ongoing defamation suit, but it is important to remember that the case is still in progress. As more updates become available, we will continue to bring you the latest information.
The defamation suit, Lipika Mitra v. Nirmala Sitharaman, which stems from allegations of false statements made during a press conference, has prompted a high-stakes general-news debate about politics. Despite the convenience of both parties being considered in scheduling the hearing, Lipika Mitra's non-appearance in the case led to a ₹5,000 fine imposed by the Delhi court, with a final opportunity for her to file a reply and make arguments in the case on August 2, 2025.
