In a dramatic escalation of an ongoing feud, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey has approached the Delhi High Courtfiling a civil defamation lawsuit seeking damages of ₹2 crore against former Union Finance Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg. Alongside the civil litigation in the High Court, the lawmaker confirmed that he has also initiated criminal defamation proceedings against the former top bureaucrat before Delhi’s Patiala House Court.
Dual Defamation Pleas in Delhi High Court and Patiala House Court
Taking to social media platform X to announce the judicial action, Nishikant Dubey stated that the courts will now thoroughly examine the controversy. He remarked that the legal proceedings will put the record straight regarding his 18-year parliamentary career as an elected representative:
Civil Damages: The MP has sought ₹2 crore in damages through the civil defamation suit placed before the Delhi High Court.
Criminal Proceedings: A parallel complaint under criminal defamation law has been instituted in the Patiala House Court.
Preceding Legal Notice: The lawsuit follows an earlier legal notice issued by Dubey demanding an unconditional public apology, immediate retraction of remarks, and removal of claims made by the former bureaucrat within a seven-day window.
Podcast Controversy Sparks War of Words Over GDP and Past Letters
The spat between the parliamentarian and the former civil servant centers around public statements regarding economic debates and administrative history:
Garg’s Rejection of the Notice: In response to Dubey’s legal demand, Subhash Chandra Garg rejected the charges as unfounded, maintaining on digital media that his statements were strictly based on his personal understanding, professional recollections, and events from his tenure.
The GDP Column and 2018 Letter: The friction intensified after Garg authored an opinion editorial discussing India’s GDP growth trajectory, which Dubey publicly countered on X, citing an official communication written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 3, 2018.
Podcast Revelations Escalated the Feud: The issue reached a boiling point when Garg recounted an alleged private interaction with Dubey during a podcast discussion. Strongly denying Garg’s narrative, Dubey dismissed the account as baseless and derogatory, paving the way for the courtroom showdown.