New Delhi, June 26 (HS): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserted in the Rouse Avenue Court's hearing of a criminal defamation case that Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti cannot legally represent his wife, Lipika Mitra. Additional Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal scheduled the next hearing on Lipika’s plea for July 16. Nirmala Sitharaman's lawyer, Zoheeb Hussain, argued that Bharti's involvement creates a conflict of interest and urged him to withdraw his power of attorney, threatening to report him to the Bar Council if he refuses.

The court had previously instructed Lipika Mitra's lawyer to share her petition with Sitharaman. The notice was issued to Sitharaman on May 23, following Lipika’s allegations about derogatory remarks made by her during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, claiming that these statements exploited her marital issues to sabotage Bharti’s candidacy. Bharti was running for the New Delhi seat in the elections.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar