Mahua Moitra sues BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai for defamation

Mahua Moitra is at the centre of a political storm after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that she had allegedly taken bribes from a business house to ask questions in Parliament.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Mahua Moitra moved the Delhi High Court on October 17 seeking to restrain Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey, advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, and several social media platforms and media houses from posting, circulating or publishing any alleged fake and defamatory content against her.

The High Court issued notices to the defendants in the case and posted Ms. Moitra’s suit for further hearing on Friday. “In view of the urgency emphasized by learned senior counsel for the plaintiff [Ms. Moitra], list on October 20, 2023,” the High Court order said.

Ms. Moitra is at the centre of a political storm after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that she had allegedly taken bribes from a business house to ask questions in Parliament.

In his complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker on October 15, Mr. Dubey, cited a letter from Mr. Dehadrai, Ms. Moitra’s estranged partner, to accuse Ms. Moitra of “breach of privilege, contempt of the house, and criminal offence”.

Ms. Moitra has denied the allegations.

Also read | LS Speaker refers ‘cash-for-query’ complaint against TMC’s Mahua Moitra to ethics panel

Senior advocate Rebecca John, who represented Ms. Moitra before the High Court, speaking to The Hindu said, “Essentially we were seeking a restrain again the dissemination of personal information of Ms. Moitra in the form of photograph, which really is related to her personal event and has nothing to do with her public life.”