Delhi High Court Grants Temporary Injunction in Gaurav Bhatia’s Defamation Suit Against YouTube and X Contents

New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) The Delhi High Court issued an ad-interim injunction order in favor of senior advocate and BJP member Gaurav Bhatia on his defamation plea against social media users and YouTube channels. The case stems from defamatory content circulated about Bhatia after an assault incident during a lawyers’ strike in Gautam Budha Nagar District & Sessions Court last month.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna disposed of Bhatia’s application seeking interim relief and directed the removal of posts or tweets against Bhatia from social media platforms. The court expressed concern about deepfake videos showing Bhatia being assaulted, stating that such content is sensationalized and presents false information.

The court concluded that irreparable harm would be caused to Bhatia if the deepfake videos and tweets remained public, while no harm would be caused to the defendants by restraining the material until the suit is adjudicated on its merits. Bhatia’s legal team welcomed the court’s decision, emphasizing the need to combat the spread of misinformation and false narratives on social media platforms.

Bhatia’s lawyer stated, “This injunction order serves as a warning to those who maliciously spread false information online. We will continue to take legal action against individuals and entities that engage in defamatory tactics to tarnish our client’s reputation.” The court’s decision marks a significant development in addressing the misuse of social media for spreading misinformation and defamatory content.