The Delhi High Court has directed social media platforms X Corp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (parent company of Instagram) to immediately take down videos showing BJP leader Shazia Ilmi walking out of a live debate on India Today, stating that the footage breaches her right to privacy.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora in response to a new application filed by Ilmi in her ongoing defamation case against senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. Sardesai had earlier posted a clip on his social media where Ilmi was seen allegedly abusing a video journalist during the same incident.
Read also: Delhi High Court Rejects Bail Plea of Separatist Leader Nayeem Khan in UAPA Terror Funding Case
“The Defendant nos. 3 (X Corp) and 4 (Meta) are forthwith directed to take down the posts published in para 5 [of the application],” the Court ordered.
In the April 4 judgment, the court partially ruled in Ilmi’s favor, declaring that an 18-second video clip, which captures Ilmi stepping away from the debate set and exiting the camera frame, violated her personal privacy. The Court emphasized that Sardesai had no right to record or circulate that specific portion without her explicit consent.
The court had also, in an earlier order dated August 13, 2024, instructed Sardesai to remove the video in question until the defamation matter reaches final resolution.
“Sardesai could not have recorded or used the said portion of the video in absence of Ilmi's express consent,” the Court held.
In her recent application, Ilmi sought a direction to remove eight social media posts—one on Instagram and seven on X—which shared the disputed video clip.
Meta’s legal counsel informed the Court that the Instagram post was made on July 24, 2023, which predates the ad-interim injunction from August 13, 2024. Despite this, Meta assured the Court that it would comply with any instructions issued.
The Court noted that several X users had posted the video even after the April 4 judgment, in direct violation of the injunction order.
“The account holders of X Corp had posted the video after the judgment was pronounced on April 04, which is evident from their posts,” the Court remarked.
As a result, the Court directed X Corp to take appropriate action against the involved users as per the platform's service agreement and the IT Rules, 2021. The platform was also asked to submit a compliance report within two weeks.
Justice Arora clarified that if Ilmi identifies any future uploads of the same 18-second clip, she can notify her legal team, which may also include posts on Instagram and YouTube. Upon review, if the posts are found to violate the earlier court order, the respective social media platforms must act accordingly.
Read also: Delhi High Court Considers PIL Seeking Increase in Council of Ministers for NCT Delhi
“If it is found to be violative of April 04 order, the said defendant and social media platform will take action… keeping in mind the injunction issued by this court vide order dated 13 August, 2024 and April 04, 2025,” the Court observed.
In a significant move, the Court also instructed X Corp to provide basic subscriber details of the account holders who violated the order, within one week.
“Upon information being provided, the plaintiff is directed to take steps for issuance of notice to said account holders for as to why action should not be initiated against them for violating orders of this court,” the Court said.
Interestingly, although partial relief was granted to Ilmi, the Court had earlier imposed a cost of ₹25,000 on her for deliberately suppressing two tweets she made, which were part of the same conversation thread as Sardesai's disputed tweet.
Background of the Controversy
The case stems from a debate on the Agniveer scheme, aired by India Today last year, in which Ilmi was a participant. Midway through the debate, she exited the set, claiming that her microphone was intentionally cut off to suppress her voice.
Following this, Rajdeep Sardesai posted a tweet, accompanied by the video, where he alleged that Ilmi not only removed her mic but also abused a video journalist and asked him to leave her house. Sardesai justified that the journalist was merely performing his professional duty.
Title: SHAZIA ILMI v. RAJDEEP SARDESAI & ORS.
