In a scathing rebuke, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered political commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra to remove a series of allegedly defamatory and abusive posts directed at nine women journalists from Newslaundry, warning that failure to comply could result in suo motu criminal proceedings. The court made it unequivocally clear that Iyer-Mitra would not be allowed to argue in the ongoing civil defamation case unless the offensive posts were deleted.
The case stems from a series of tweets where Iyer-Mitra reportedly referred to the journalists as “prostitutes” and labelled Newslaundry as a “brothel”—remarks that the petitioners, including Executive Editor Manisha Pande, described as not just defamatory but also sexually abusive and beyond the bounds of lawful speech.
Advocate Bani Dixit, representing the journalists, told the court that the tweets attacked the personal dignity and professional integrity of the women, many of whom are established journalists from varied backgrounds. The court appeared to agree. “There is a limit for everything. If you are justifying this language, I am restraining you from being heard,” the judge said, also warning, “I will suo motu order registration of a criminal FIR against the defendant.”
Defence counsel Jai Anant Dehadrai attempted to argue that the posts were general commentary on Newslaundry’s funding patterns, not directed at specific individuals. The court, however, found the defence unconvincing. “If it’s not attributable to any person, what is the point of putting it out?” the judge questioned, further challenging the appropriateness of using the term “brothel” in reference to any workplace.
When Dehadrai tried to argue that the petitioners should have pursued criminal remedies rather than a civil suit, the judge warned him against derailing the matter and reiterated the court’s authority to initiate criminal proceedings on its own.
After several sharp exchanges, the court criticized the defence counsel for being “oversmart” and reiterated that Iyer-Mitra would not be heard unless the tweets were removed. Ultimately, Dehadrai agreed—without prejudice to the ongoing legal arguments—that the posts would be taken down within five hours. The court accepted this undertaking and scheduled the next hearing for May 26, 2025.
This is not Iyer-Mitra’s first run-in with the law over social media remarks. In 2018, he was arrested for allegedly derogatory comments about Odisha’s Konark Sun Temple and was denied bail at the time.
The Delhi High Court’s firm stance in this matter may set a precedent in how Indian courts address gendered abuse and defamation in digital spaces—placing limits on what can be excused under the banner of free speech.
