New Delhi, June 27 -- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday informed a Delhi court that AAP leader Somnath Bharti cannot legally represent his wife in a defamation case due to "conflict of interest". Bharti's wife, Lipika Mitra filed a criminal complaint against Sitharaman before a court accusing her of defamation.
Sitharaman's counsel argued Bharti representing his wife Mitra in her complaint was conflict of interest as Mitra was Bharti's wife, who alleged that the minister's purported speech damaged her husband's reputation.
The counsels said Bharti couldn't appear in his own case and should withdraw his vakalatnama (document authorising lawyer to represent) failing which a reference ought to be made to the Bar Council of Indi...