The Delhi High Court has closed the defamation plea filed by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai over social media posts she called defamatory.
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora disposed of the case after Dubey’s counsel confirmed in court that his Facebook post had been deleted. Dehadrai, who appeared in person, assured the court that he would delete his post on the X platform as well.
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“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,”
— Delhi High Court
Moitra had filed the application in connection with a quote tweet made by Dehadrai referring to a "bombshell development in the Lokpal case filed by Dr. Nishikant Dubey MP". Dubey had also claimed on Facebook that the CBI registered a case involving Moitra’s alleged foreign accounts and expenditures.
Dubey’s counsel argued that his post was a reaction to a comment by Moitra that included the word “pitbull,” which he considered derogatory. He requested that Moitra be stopped from using such references.
In response, Moitra’s lawyer clarified that the word “pitbull” was not intended for Dubey. He stated that when Moitra addresses Dubey directly in posts, she tags him explicitly. He added that none of her posts referring to “pitbull” were about Dubey.
“The statement of the plaintiff is taken on record and she is bound down to the same.”
— Delhi High Court
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With Moitra clearly disowning any intent to refer to Dubey as “pitbull,” the Court noted that no directions were required on that matter.
The background of this case dates back to 2023, when Moitra filed a defamation suit against Dubey and Dehadrai. She alleged they made false claims that she accepted bribes for asking questions in Parliament. Moitra had also demanded that the two, along with certain media outlets, be restrained from making defamatory statements and be directed to issue public apologies in multiple languages and newspapers.
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In the suit, she sought an ex-parte injunction to remove defamatory posts, images, videos, and publications from all platforms until the case was resolved.
The controversy began after Dubey complained to the Lok Sabha Speaker, alleging Moitra took bribes to raise questions in Parliament. Dubey said he received the information through a letter from Dehadrai. Moitra then sent legal notices denying the allegations and insisting she never accepted any bribe or gift in return for her work as an MP.
The case is scheduled to be heard next on July 17, 2025.
