No remorse by Abhijit Iyer-Mitra despite taking down posts: Newslaundry journos to Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court was told on Monday that political commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra has shown no remorse despite taking down his tweets referring to Newslaundry women journalists as "prostitutes"..Appearing for Iyer-Mitra, Senior Advocate Percival Billimoria told the Court that the posts in question had been deleted. However, Advocate Bani Dikshit, appearing for the Newslaundry journalists, said,"There is absolutely no remorse. He is commenting on the post and writing poetically."Billimoria then pressed for dismissal of the suit with costs as well as investigation into Newslaundry. The Court, however, said,"We are only confined to the posts. If you have any other grievance please take it up elsewhere.".After Dikshit said that her clients were pursuing damages in the case, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav eventually issued summons to Iyer-Mitra, ordering,"Heard learned counsel for the plaintiff. She accepts remaining defamatory posts have been taken down. They also submit that the instant civil suit is for future injunctions and damages. Having considered the nature of submissions by counsel for plaintiff, the Court deems it appropriate to issue summons. Interim order which court has passed shall remain in place. In meantime any further defamatory content made by defendant, the plaintiff shall file a fresh suit.".The Court was hearing the ₹2 crore defamation suit filed by Newslaundry Executive Editor Manisha Pande and eight other women journalists against Iyer-Mitra for referring to them as ‘prostitutes’..During the hearing, Billimoria insisted,"It is one of the most insidious news channels, they speak about the Prime Minister's relationship with the Italian PM." The Court replied,"Where the Laxman Rekha lies, you must understand. When the post becomes defamatory, they can come back."He however contended that materials placed on record are not defamatory and they were taken down only in deference to the Court. .On the last date of hearing the Court had a heated exchange with Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, appearing for Iyer-Mitra, after the lawyer sought to defend the posts in question.At one point, the Court even warned that it would order the police to register a criminal case against Iyer-Mitra.The Court ultimately ordered,"While going through the nature of the language used by the defendant, the court was the prima facie opinion that it is not permissible in any civilised society and was about to pass interim order. However, Mr. Jai Anant Dehadrai appears for the defendants and he contends that he has points to raise, he however conceads choice of words could have been avoided. He says without prejudice to his contention the defendant will take down the abusive posts in 5 hours. It is taken on record and he shall act accordingly."He subsequently agreed to take down the allegedly defamatory tweets..The suit refers to eight tweets posted by Iyer-Mitra on X between February to May 2025 and has sought a direction to restrain him from making further defamatory posts. “By referring to the Plaintiff Nos. 1 to 9 as prostitutes, repeatedly, in a series of posts and articles, the Defendant No. 1 [Iyer-Mitra] has clearly launched a series of scathing and belligerent attacks against the Plaintiffs. As such, the Defendant No. 1 cannot be permitted to disseminate falsities, only with the oblique motive to gain cheap publicity and eyeballs,” the defamation suit states. A written apology and damages of ₹2 crore have also been sought. .The journalists have argued that they are young women media professionals and Iyer-Mitra’s post is not only an attack on their reputation and dignity, but has caused them “enormous mental trauma, harassment and embarrassment to them, amongst peers, friends and family”. “The statements made by the Defendant No. 1 are per se defamatory. The content of the Defendant No. 1 is also a criminal offence, and is liable to be removed from all media including social media websites, and is an affront to free speech,” the suit states. .Read Order