New Delhi: On May 21, the Delhi High Court ordered internet personality Abhijit Iyer Mitra and social media platform X Corp to remove his defamatory tweets targeting the independent digital news outlet Newslaundry and its women journalists. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav criticised Mitra's derogatory language and insisted the posts be taken down before further hearings, stating such remarks against women are unacceptable.
The High Court heard a civil defamation suit filed on May 14 by nine women journalists from Newslaundry, represented by Advocate Bani Dikshit, seeking over Rs 2 crore in damages for defamatory allegations made by Mitra, who described them using terms like "prostitute" and labeled Newslaundry a "brothel."
Mitra’s defense claimed the posts were not directed at individual journalists and contended that Newslaundry was not a legitimate news organization. The court challenged this argument, questioning the definition of a "brothel." The plaintiffs asserted that the comments were intended to harm their credibility and target their subscribers, aiming to damage their business and reputation.
The plaintiffs contended that defamatory posts, allegedly still present on X, have inflicted "great reputational harm" and "enormous mental trauma, harassment, and embarrassment" on the journalists involved. They argued that these allegations could adversely affect Newslaundry's business and talent acquisition.
Consequently, they sought immediate injunctive relief to stop further dissemination of such content and to have the existing posts removed. Additionally, they demanded a written apology from Abhijit on his social media and damages of ₹2 crore with 18% per annum interest. Although Dehadrai claimed the posts were not attributable to anyone, Justice Kaurav disagreed. The Court suggested that any civil claim could lead to potential criminal repercussions for the defendant.
When Dehadrai persisted in interjecting during the proceedings, the Court admonished him for being "oversmart," leading to an apology from him for attempting to make a hypothetical argument. The Court acknowledged Dehadrai's submission regarding an available criminal remedy, stating it was enlightening. Eventually, Dehadrai agreed to remove certain posts within five hours, with the case scheduled for a hearing next week.
The suit concerns eight tweets from Iyer-Mitra posted between February and May 2025, seeking a directive to prevent further defamatory statements. The plaintiffs, referred to derogatorily as prostitutes, argue that such posts constitute aggressive attacks on their dignity and reputation, causing significant mental trauma and embarrassment.
They claim these statements are inherently defamatory and violative of their rights, demanding a written apology and ₹2 crore in damages. The journalists emphasized the need for removal of the defamatory content from all media platforms, asserting the statements are not only defamatory but also a criminal offense, posing a threat to free speech.
Who Is Abhijit-Iyer Mitra?
Abhijit-Iyer Mitra is a known Internet personality with a significant social media following. He completed his B.Com at the University of Madras, transitioned from corporate to academia, earning a Master's in International Relations from Monash University and pursuing a PhD. Iyer-Mitra has worked as a journalist for numerous media outlets including Daily Mail, Hindustan Times, CNN-News18, and The Hindu, among others, showcasing his diverse experience in journalism.
