Delhi High Court Directs Takedown Of 5 Posts Targeting Raghav Chadha

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted partial relief to BJP MP Raghav Chadha by directing social media platforms to remove five posts that it found to be prima facie defamatory. However, the court rejected his claim that the matter involved a violation of personality rights, limiting the scope of relief to specific content.

Court Finds Limited Defamation, Rejects Personality Rights Claim

Delivering the order, Justice Subramonium Prasad clarified that the dispute did not fall under personality rights. He said, "There are no personality rights involved. However, I have ordered the takedown of only five documents. The rest are not defamatory prima facie."

Chadha had approached the High Court alleging that several social media posts misused his image and persona while falsely portraying him as someone who had "sold himself for money". He sought legal protection under personality rights, arguing that the content damaged his reputation.

The court, however, concluded that the issue was not one of personality rights and confined its order to removing only those five documents it considered prima facie defamatory.

Earlier Hearing Had Favoured Political Criticism

The latest order follows the High Court's observations made on May 27, when it refused to grant interim relief to Chadha.

During the earlier hearing, Justice Prasad had orally remarked that criticism, satire and cartoons aimed at political leaders cannot be restrained simply because they may be unpleasant or uncomfortable. The court had also observed that the posts largely related to criticism of political decisions and did not, at first glance, amount to a violation of personality rights.

Challenge Against Deepfakes And Manipulated Content

In his petition, Chadha sought an injunction against AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated videos, synthetic voice cloning, morphed visuals, fabricated speeches and other deceptive digital content circulating on social media.

Among the posts he challenged were images depicting him in a saree and visuals showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi showering money on him. According to Chadha, such content was misleading and intended to tarnish his public image.

Court Suggests Defamation As Appropriate Remedy

The controversy emerged after Chadha, who had entered the Rajya Sabha as an Aam Aadmi Party nominee, joined the BJP in April this year, triggering widespread reactions on social media.

His legal team argued that several of the posts were profane and defamatory, alleging that they falsely suggested he had accepted money in exchange for switching political allegiance.

While granting limited relief, the High Court stated that a personality rights petition was not the appropriate legal remedy in the case. It observed that Chadha could pursue a defamation suit, but only in relation to specific instances that qualify as defamatory.