Mahua Moitra agrees to delete 'fake degree' post against Nishikant Dubey in Delhi HC
Synopsis
TMC MP Mahua Moitra walked into the Delhi High Court on Tuesday and agreed to delete the social media post calling BJP MP Nishikant Dubey a 'fake degree kism ke aadmi' — but pointedly reserved her right to keep questioning his credentials. With a defamation suit alive, a podcast row involving ex-Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, and a GDP methodology dispute in the backdrop, this courtroom moment is the latest flare-up in a long-running political war.
Key Takeaways
TMC MP Mahua Moitra agreed on 27 October to delete a post calling BJP MP Nishikant Dubey a 'fake degree kism ke aadmi' before the Delhi High Court .
The hearing was before a single-judge Bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela , who warned of a court order if the post was not removed.
Former Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg undertook to request a podcaster to block a controversial segment involving remarks about Dubey.
Dubey has denied ever visiting a Central government secretary's office since his election in 2009 or writing any transfer recommendation.
The defamation suit also has a GDP growth dimension: Garg publicly questioned India's 7.8% first-quarter growth figures and methodology, drawing a sharp response from Dubey.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Tuesday, 27 October agreed before the Delhi High Court to delete a social media post in which she had described Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey as a 'fake degree kism ke aadmi' (a man with a fake degree). In the same hearing, former Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg undertook to request a podcaster to block a portion of a video containing a controversial remark he made against Dubey.
What Happened in Court
A single-judge Bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a defamation suit filed by Dubey against both Moitra and Garg over their alleged defamatory remarks against him. Moitra's counsel told the court that she would remove the disputed post but sought to retain her right to publicly question the BJP MP's educational qualifications, arguing the disagreement was political in nature. The counsel further submitted that Dubey should establish the genuineness of his degree to rebut the allegation.
However, Justice Gedela objected to the use of the term 'blackmailer' against Dubey and directed Moitra's counsel to obtain instructions on removing the post, warning that the court would otherwise pass an appropriate order. Following those instructions, the court was informed that Moitra would indeed take down the tweet.
Garg's Role and the Podcast Controversy
The controversy involving Garg centres on remarks he allegedly made in a podcast, which was published by a third party. During the hearing, it emerged that the podcast was not Garg's own production, and that he would request the podcaster to block the contentious segment. In the podcast, Garg had reportedly referred to an alleged meeting with Dubey during his tenure at the Finance Ministry, claiming the BJP MP had approached him regarding certain matters.
Dubey firmly rejected the allegation, stating that since his election to Parliament in 2009, he had never visited the office of any Central government secretary and had not written any recommendation seeking the transfer or posting of a government official.
The GDP Dispute in the Background
The friction between Garg and Dubey extends beyond the podcast. The two had also traded sharp remarks over India's first-quarter GDP growth rate of 7.8 per cent, with Garg questioning the figures and the methodology applied to earlier GDP calculations. Dubey responded pointedly, escalating what was already a charged exchange between the former bureaucrat and the sitting MP.
Garg served as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, from July 2017 to July 2019 and briefly held the position of Finance Secretary between March and June 2019.
What Happens Next
The defamation suit filed by Dubey against Moitra and Garg continues before the Delhi High Court. With Moitra committed to removing the post and Garg undertaking to approach the podcaster, the court will assess compliance at the next hearing. Whether Moitra's stated right to question Dubey's educational qualifications outside the deleted post will itself generate fresh legal disputes remains to be seen.
Point of View
Not a concession — she explicitly preserved her right to question Dubey's educational record outside the deleted post, keeping the political provocation alive even as she satisfied the immediate legal threshold. The case is a window into how Indian politicians increasingly weaponise defamation courts not necessarily to win judgments but to extract public recantations. The GDP subplot, involving a former Finance Secretary openly disputing official growth data, is arguably the more consequential thread and deserves independent scrutiny beyond the courtroom drama.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Mahua Moitra agree to delete the social media post?
Mahua Moitra agreed to delete the post after Justice Tushar Rao Gedela of the Delhi High Court objected to its content — specifically the use of the term 'blackmailer' — and warned that the court would otherwise pass an appropriate order. Her counsel confirmed the deletion while reserving the right to question Nishikant Dubey's educational qualifications through other means.
What is the defamation suit filed by Nishikant Dubey about?
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against TMC MP Mahua Moitra and former Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg over alleged defamatory remarks made against him. The suit covers Moitra's social media post calling him a 'fake degree kism ke aadmi' and Garg's podcast remarks about an alleged meeting at the Finance Ministry.
What did Subhash Chandra Garg say in the podcast, and what has he agreed to do?
Garg reportedly referred in a podcast to an alleged meeting with Dubey during his tenure as Finance Secretary, claiming Dubey had approached him regarding certain matters. Dubey denied this entirely. Garg has since agreed to request the podcaster to block the controversial portion of the video.
What is the GDP controversy between Garg and Dubey?
Garg publicly questioned India's first-quarter GDP growth figure of 7.8% and raised concerns about changes in the methodology used for earlier GDP calculations. Dubey responded sharply, and the exchange formed part of the broader backdrop to the defamation proceedings.
Who is Subhash Chandra Garg and what was his role in the government?
Subhash Chandra Garg is a former Indian Administrative Service officer who served as Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, from July 2017 to July 2019, and briefly as Finance Secretary between March and June 2019 before his departure from the role.
