In a significant development in an ongoing defamation case, Lipika Mitra, the wife of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti, has made serious allegations before a Delhi court regarding the impact of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's statements on her children. Mitra claimed that her children faced severe social ostracism, humiliation, and even physical abuse from their classmates as a direct consequence of Sitharaman's remarks.
Courtroom Allegations of Family Trauma
During the pre-summoning evidence presented before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal on January 29, 2026, Mitra detailed how her children suffered psychologically and socially. She stated that when Sitharaman allegedly made false and malicious statements during a press conference on May 17, 2024, her children were suddenly exposed to disturbing lies about their parents that affected them deeply.
"My children were subjected to humiliation and hurt by their classmates," Mitra told the court. "They are even ostracised by their classmates and till now are being regularly harassed on these accounts."
Specific Incidents of Abuse and Exclusion
Mitra provided specific examples of the harassment her children endured. She revealed that her son faced physical abuse when he attempted to counter false allegations made by his friends. "He was kicked in his abdomen and also in his private parts," she stated in her court testimony.
Regarding her daughter, Mitra explained that the social exclusion has been particularly severe. "My daughter...is also going through similar experiences...for such reasons only, she never gets invited to any social events like birthday parties etc," she added, highlighting the ongoing social isolation the children face.
Background of the Defamation Case
The defamation case stems from a press conference during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allegedly made statements about Bharti's past behavior. According to Mitra's allegations, Sitharaman claimed that when Mitra was pregnant, Bharti had hit her on the stomach and had a dog attack her.
Mitra has characterized these statements as "defamatory, false, and malicious" and argued they were widely disseminated through television and YouTube news platforms with the objective of tarnishing her husband's reputation and damaging his electoral prospects.
Timeline of Events and Family Impact
In her court statement, Mitra provided context about the family's history. She noted that when marital discord occurred between her and Bharti in 2015, their children were just two and four years old and unaware of the situation. The alleged false statements in 2024, however, brought these matters into public view in what she described as a traumatic manner for the entire family.
"My husband and I, as well as all the party workers, were faced with humiliating/traumatic questions by the public as well as the media due to the lies spoken by Mrs Sitharaman," Mitra testified. "It was traumatic for the entire family, the volunteers who worked selflessly for the greater good and the citizens of his constituency."
Political Context and Legal Proceedings
Somnath Bharti, a lawyer by profession, represented the Malviya Nagar constituency in the Delhi Assembly from 2013 until 2025. The defamation case represents a significant legal confrontation between political figures, with Mitra seeking legal recourse for what she claims are damaging falsehoods that have extended beyond political reputation to affect her children's wellbeing.
The court proceedings continue as Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Paras Dalal considers the evidence presented during the pre-summoning phase. The case highlights how political statements can have far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate political arena, affecting family members and children who become collateral damage in public disputes.
