Today, Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai gives assurance to the Delhi High Court that he would refrain from levying any accusations suggesting the involvement of Biju Janata Dal MP and Senior Advocate Pinaki Misra in any criminal conspiracy against Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India.

Justice Jasmeet Singh has summoned Dehadrai in response to a defamation suit filed by Misra. The suit aims to prevent Dehadrai from disseminating or publishing purportedly untrue and defamatory allegations against Misra.

The court instructed Dehadrai to submit his written statement within four weeks. Additionally, Justice Singh summoned media outlets ANI and Press Trust of India, the other two defendants in the case. Advocate Siddhant Kumar represented ANI in the proceedings.

Earlier today, the court made a remark emphasizing that plotting a conspiracy against the Prime Minister amounts to treason. Additionally, the court indicated that prima facie, making unfounded allegations of conspiracy against the Prime Minister is not acceptable conduct for any individual.

“The allegations of conspiracy against the Prime Minister cannot be made irresponsibly and needs to be based on cogent and substantial reasons,” Justice Singh said.

Advocate Samudra Sarangi represented Misra, while Advocate Raghav Awasthi appeared on behalf of Dehadrai.

In the post-lunch session, Awasthi assured the court that until the next hearing date, Dehadrai will refrain from making any allegations that Misra is involved in any criminal conspiracy against the Prime Minister. This assurance is made in consideration of Dehadrai's complaint currently pending before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Awasthi submitted to the court a copy of Dehadrai's statement provided to the CBI. He further mentioned that the Lokpal of India has directed the CBI to investigate all facets of Dehadrai's allegations.

To this, Justice Singh responded: “Then you don't say it no. It has serious repercussions on the general public that there is a conspiracy against the highest office bearer of the country. You wait for the investigation before saying that. You are making statement that he is part of the conspiracy.”

Awasthi argued that if there is an ongoing investigation regarding Dehadrai's allegations, it should not be a matter within the scope of Misra's lawsuit. He emphasized that since the allegations are currently under investigation by the CBI, as directed by the Lokpal of India, they cannot be adjudicated upon at this stage.

Dehadrai personally assured the court that he will refrain from making any statements against Misra regarding the allegations of involvement in conspiring against the Prime Minister.

Sarangi then submitted that the order of the Lokpal of India does not contain any specific allegations against Misra, and furthermore, Misra is not named in the FIR filed by the CBI.

In the suit, Misra stated that following personal differences between Dehadrai and TMC leader Mahua Moitra, the lawyer made a series of allegations not only against her but also against individuals with whom she had personal relationships, including the BJD leader.

Misra has alleged that Dehadrai published various tweets against him on the X platform using several pseudonyms, including "Canning Lane" and "Oriya/Odia Babu."

Misra is aggrieved by an interview given by Dehadrai to news agencies ANI and PTI after hearing in his defamation case against Moitra.

The suit states that in the interview, Dehadrai names Misra for the first time and made “wild, imaginary, false, reckless and per se defamatory allegations” against him.

Other defendants in the suit are ANI, PTI and X (formerly Twitter).

Title: PINAKI MISRA v. JAI ANANT DEHADRAI & ORS.