Delhi High Court Orders Removal of Derogatory Social Media Posts Against BJP Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia

The Delhi High Court issued a directive on Tuesday to remove alleged derogatory content targeting BJP spokesperson and senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia from various social media platforms. These posts surfaced following an altercation involving Bhatia at a Noida court on March 20. The court emphasized that while the right to freedom of expression is important, it cannot be used to undermine personal dignity and respect.

The ruling came in response to Bhatia's plea seeking interim relief to take down the derogatory posts from social media platforms. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna denounced the scuffle incident and highlighted that despite lawyers being on strike at the Gautam Buddha Nagar court, Bhatia had agreed to the adjournment when informed.

The High Court condemned the alleged manhandling of Bhatia as stated in his complaint, describing it as a reprehensible act. While acknowledging the role of the press and media in reporting such incidents, the court stressed the importance of accuracy in their reporting. It deemed the circulation of a ‘deepfake’ video depicting Bhatia being assaulted as sensationalizing false facts.

Concerned that such videos could tarnish Bhatia's reputation and pose a future threat, the court ordered a ban on their circulation until the case is resolved. The lawsuit targets YouTube channels and an unidentified social media handle, identified only as 'X'.