BJP leader claims social media posts violate his privacy and use derogatory language against him.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gaurav Bhatia has approached the Delhi High Court with a request to remove allegedly defamatory social media posts regarding his recent television appearance. Bhatia’s concerns stem from a segment he participated in on a News18 program, hosted by journalist Amish Devgan, where a camera shot inadvertently revealed him wearing a kurta paired with shorts, without any pants or pyjamas. This particular clip has since circulated widely on various social media platforms.
Justice Amit Bansal presided over the matter and indicated that the court would review the evidence before issuing any orders on the situation. During the hearing, the judge made it clear that while he would consider action against posts containing defamatory references to Bhatia’s private parts, he would not impose restrictions on content that is satirical or sarcastic in nature.
Advocate Raghav Awasthi, representing Bhatia, emphasized that the BJP leader was indeed wearing shorts at the time of the broadcast and argued that the cameraperson’s mistake in showing his lower body should not have led to the subsequent sharing of the image. Awasthi contended that these social media posts not only violated Bhatia’s privacy but also included derogatory language regarding his appearance, which he deemed unacceptable.
Bhatia himself attended the court proceedings, asserting that derogatory comments about his television appearance should not be tolerated on social media platforms. The legal counsel for Bhatia pointed out that the image in question was captured in the privacy of his home and should not have been disseminated without his consent.
However, Justice Bansal remarked that individuals involved in politics often need to develop a thicker skin due to the nature of public life. He stated that it is essential to differentiate between what constitutes offensive remarks and what can be classified as satirical commentary. The judge’s comments suggest a nuanced approach to the balance between freedom of expression and the protection of personal dignity.
Bhatia’s defamation suit specifically targets the removal of posts made by various individuals and groups, including the media cell of the Samajwadi Party, the news outlet Newslaundry, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, Congress leader Ragini Nayak, and journalists like Abhisar Sharma. The outcome of this legal action could set a precedent for how public figures navigate their privacy in the age of social media.
