Nine women employees at Newslaundry have filed a defamation suit with the Delhi High Court against public commentator Abhijit Iyer Mitra for his continued attempt to post ‘falsely and malicious’ content to humiliate women professionals. They have alleged that Abhijit Iyer made “vulgar remarks”, addressing them as “prostitutes” and that their workplace is a “brothel”.
The suit refers to eight “revolting posts” made by Abhijit Iyer through his X handle from February to May 2025. They had earlier sought an interim suit to restrain him from making further derogatory posts.
On Wednesday, the Delhi High Court asked Abhijit Iyer Mitra and the X Corp (formerly Twitter) to remove the posts within five hours. His lawyer tendered an apology and assured them that they would do so.
“These kinds of languages, whatever may be the background, can these against women be permissible in the society?” asked the judge. Alarmed at why the posts are still on the platform, the judge said, “I am passing a judicial order, I am restraining you, this is not permissible under law, and then I’ll order an FIR against you.”
The journalists stated that his persistent attack to hamper their reputation and dignity has caused them “enormous mental trauma, harassment and embarrassment, amongst peers, friends and family”. The Newsminute Editor, Dhanya Rajendran, tweeting the updates of the court hearing, questioned the media and other journalists who got him on the panel, regardless.
“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. The suit seeks a written apology and damages of 2 crores and was filed through advocates Udhav Khanna and Dhruv Vig.
