Delhi High Court asks Subhash Garg to mute remarks against Nishikant Dubey

The Delhi High Court directed Subhash Garg to mute disputed podcast remarks about Nishikant Dubey. The order limits further circulation while the BJP MP's defamation suit proceeds.Stock photo used for illustrationNewdelhi,Oct 27, 2026 14:32 ISTThe Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed former finance secretary Subhash Garg to block or mute certain allegedly objectionable remarks he made against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey during a podcast, news agency Press Trust of India reported.Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra's counsel also assured the court that she would remove certain related posts from X that were allegedly defamatory.Justice Tushar Rao Gedela asked Garg to take steps to beep or block the remarks in the podcast, which was hosted by a YouTuber. The court issued summons to Garg and Moitra on Dubey's defamation suit and directed them to file their replies.Dubey has sought permanent orders restraining Garg and Moitra from making allegations against him, along with an apology and damages of Rs 2 crore. Counsel for the defendants sought time to respond, arguing that the lawsuit "did not paint the correct picture". The court, however, asked whether they could refrain from further sharing the content in the meantime.The court said it was aware that both Dubey and Garg were persons of repute and observed that the former finance secretary should not have used an "intemperate word" in the podcast. "You cannot use a word like this. Suppose someone said ...(that to you) will you take that lightly? ... You cannot use the word. It is absolutely derogatory. You cannot call anybody by that name. Rest of the things it is debatable issue," the court orally observed during the hearing.After taking instructions, Garg's counsel assured the court that he would contact the podcast host and ask for certain allegedly defamatory phrases to be muted.According to PTI, Dubey alleged that Garg made false and malicious claims against him during a podcast or interview on September 17. The content was subsequently published and circulated on YouTube, Facebook and other digital platforms.Before approaching the High Court, Dubey sent Garg a legal notice on September 21, demanding the immediate withdrawal, retraction and removal of the allegedly defamatory claims. The court has now sought replies from Garg and Moitra while asking that the disputed content not be circulated further.- Ends