Delhi High Court quashes defamation case against former MP Pinaki Misra

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed criminal defamation charges against former Biju Janata Dal MP and senior advocate Pinaki Misra, ruling that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the case. The decision, announced on Wednesday, was delivered by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who reasoned that continuing the proceedings would not promote justice and risk exposing Misra to the rigors of a criminal trial lacking substantial evidence.

The dispute stemmed from a complaint filed by advocate Siddhartha Singh in August 2018, accusing Misra of professional misconduct before the Delhi Bar Council. Singh alleged that Misra took contradictory stances on e-waste regulations, initially before a parliamentary committee and subsequently while representing power distribution companies at the National Green Tribunal.

Misra denied the accusations, countering with allegations that Singh was a "crook" and "blackmailer". Singh pursued criminal defamation charges in 2019 before a magistrate court in Patiala House, with the trial scheduled for April 20, 2019. Justice Sharma emphasized the absence of any corroborating statements or evidence to establish that Misra's comments had a negative impact on Singh's reputation.

Singh's legal strategy was limited to self-testimony and a lack of verification of the Dailyhunt report, which cited Misra as calling Singh a "crook". Misra disputed the interview and produced a letter to the editor of Odisha Post, demanding clarification. The court also noted that the magistrate had not verified the publication or the reporter, a crucial step to substantiate the allegations.

Consequently, the court concluded that there was no independent evidence tying Misra to the alleged statements.