Delhi HC Orders Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai to Take Down Alleged Defamatory Video against Shazia Ilmi

The Delhi High Court has directed journalist Rajdeep Sardesai to remove a video he posted on ‘X’, which alleges that BJP leader Shazia Ilmi abused a video journalist from India Today during a televised debate.

The controversy began after the BJP leader participated in a debate on India Today’s news channel last month regarding the Agniveer scheme. Ilmi exited the debate midway, claiming that her microphone was cut off to censor her.

Rajdeep Sardesai posted the video and tweeted that Ilmi’s actions—throwing the microphone and allegedly abusing the video journalist—were unacceptable. He also stated that the video journalist was merely performing his duties.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed Sardesai to take down the video on ‘X’ until the final resolution of the suit. The Court also instructed other accounts that shared the video to remove it, with the possibility of social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram, blocking it if the video was not taken down.

Ilmi’s counsel argued that she was recorded without her consent by the cameraman, and that her consent ceased once she left the show. The counsel contended that the cameraman’s actions constituted an invasion of her privacy. Ilmi further claimed that Sardesai’s video was edited to malign her character. She argued that Sardesai’s insinuation that she threw the microphone and mistreated the cameraman damaged her reputation, portraying her as ill-mannered. She also stated that the video shared by Sardesai toned down the expletives used by the cameraman.

The Court questioned the counsel for Defendants No. 1 & 2 (Sardesai and India Today) about Sardesai’s authority to use the footage from India Today and asked for instructions on whether India Today had authorized Sardesai to use the video.

The Court noted that the video was posted by Sardesai after Ilmi had left the show and that the events recorded in the video occurred only between Ilmi and the cameraman. “You had no right to record or use the video,” the Court told Sardesai.

The Court impleaded the cameraman as Defendant No. 12 and requested both parties to submit the video transcripts. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on August 16, 2024.

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