Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday informed a Delhi court that AAP leader Somnath Bharti cannot legally represent his wife in a defamation case due to “conflict of interest”. Bharti’s wife, Lipika Mitra filed a criminal complaint against Sitharaman before a court accusing her of defamation.
Sitharaman’s counsel argued Bharti representing his wife Mitra in her complaint was conflict of interest as Mitra was Bharti’s wife, who alleged that the minister’s purported speech damaged her husband’s reputation.
The counsels said Bharti couldn’t appear in his own case and should withdraw his vakalatnama (document authorising lawyer to represent) failing which a reference ought to be made to the Bar Council of India for initiation of disciplinary proceedings against him.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal posted the hearing on July 16 after Bharti sought time to argue on the application.
The judge on May 19 issued notice to Sitharaman, noting that “the proposed accused is to be given opportunity of being heard”.
“Fresh case for making and publishing defamatory, derogatory and libelous remarks in print and electronic media against the complainant received by way of assignment. It be checked and registered,” the judge noted.
The judge passed the order after hearing submissions on point of cognisance/issuance of notice to Sitharaman.
The complaint claimed that Sitharaman made “defamatory, false, and malicious statements” in a press conference on May 17, 2024 with the sole intention to tarnish the reputation of Bharti and weaken his chances of winning in general elections.
According to the complaint, the utterances were made “solely with an intent to hurt the complainant and her husband” for political gains to BJP’s candidate and political loss to the complainant’s husband during 2024 lok sabha election.
The accused, it said, spoke about the matrimonial discord of the complainant and her husband but withheld the information of their reunion and living together happily.
