Delhi High Court Directs Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai To Remove Alleged Defamatory Video Of BJP Leader Shazia Ilmi

Delhi High Court has directed journalist Rajdeep Sardesai to take down a video posted by him on 'X', alleging that BJP leader Shazia Ilmi abused a video journalist of India Today during a televised debate.

The controversy arose after Ilmi took part in a debate on India Today news channel last month on Agniveer scheme row. However, she left the debate midway claiming that her mic was cut-off with an intent to censor her.

Sardesai posted the video and made a tweet stating that to chuck the mike and allegedly abusing the video journalist by Ilmi and throwing him out of her house was just not done. He also said that the video journalist was only doing his job.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora directed Sardesai to remove the video on X until the final disposal of the suit.

The Court further directed other handles which shared the video to remove it, failing which the social media platforms, including YouTube and Instagram were to block the video.

The Counsel representing Ilmi contended that she was recorded without her consent by the cameraman. She claimed that her consent ceased once she had left the show and that the cameraman continued to follow her.

She contended that the cameraman's actions constituted an invasion of her privacy.

She further claimed that the video shared by Sardesai was edited and maligned her character. She argued that the insinuation by Sardesai that she chucked the microphone and misbehaved with the cameraman damages her reputation by showing her as ill-behaved person.

She stated that there was no abuse from her end and that the expletives used by cameraman have been toned down in the video shared by Sardesai.

The Court questioned Counsel of Defendants no. 1 & 2 (Sardesai and India Today) about the authority of Sardesai to use to use the footage of India Today. It asked the Counsel to take instructions on whether India Today authorized Sardesai to use the said video.

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

The Court impleaded the cameraman as defendant no. 12. It further asked both the parties to place the transcripts of the video. 

The Court listed the matter for further hearing on August 16.

Title: SHAZIA ILMI v. RAJDEEP SARDESAI & ORS.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 899