Delhi High Court: In a defamation suit filed by All India Trinamool Congress Party candidate Mahua Moitra against MP Nishikant Dubey and Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai for false and defamatory allegations against her in ‘cash for query’ matter, Sachin Datta, J. reserved the Judgment.
All India Trinamool Congress Party candidate Mahua Moitra and former Lok Sabha member had filed a defamation suit before the Delhi High Court against Bharatiya Janata Party (‘BJP’) MP Nishikant Dubey and Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai and media organisations over defamatory allegations against her that she demanded bribe for asking questions in Parliament, which has been famously known as cash for query matter.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had complained against Moitra to the Lok Sabha speaker alleging that she raised questions in the House after demanding bribes including cash and gifts from a big firm. It was also alleged that she shared her Lok Sabha Login and password details. The basis for the said allegation was a letter that Dubey received from Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, who had cordial relationship with Moitra before the said allegations.
Therefore, Mahua Moitra sought to restrain Nishikant Dubey, Advocate Dehadrai and some big media platforms including X, YouTube, Google, etc. from publishing or posting any “false defamatory content” against her on any online or offline platform. Moitra was also seeking public apology from Dubey and Dehradrai in three English, Hindi and Bengali newspapers each.
However, Moitra soon dropped the defamation suit against the media outlets.
Dubey’s and Dehradrai’s counsel had submitted that there was a quid pro quo between Moitra and a businessman. However, Moitra’s counsel contested the same.
Justice Datta reserved his verdict in the matter.
[Mahua Moitra v. Nishikant Dubey]
With Inputs from the Press.
