Shazia Ilmi v. Rajdeep Sardesai: Delhi High Court Directs X Corp, Meta To Take Down Videos 'Violating' BJP Leader's Privacy

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed social media platforms Meta and X Corp to take down posts where its users uploaded the video of BJP leader Shazia Ilmi in which she is seen withdrawing herself from a live debate of India Today and moving out of the shooting frame.

The Court had ruled that the said portion of the video violated Ilmi's right to privacy.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the order in a fresh application filed by Ilmi in her defamation suit against journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. He had posted a video on 'X' alleging that she abused a video journalist of India Today during the debate.

On April 04, Justice Arora gave part relief to Ilmi and held that recording and publishing the 18 seconds part of the video, wherein Ilmi is seen withdrawing herself from the live debate and moving out of the shooting frame, violated her right to privacy. The Court had said that Sardesai could not have recorded or used the said portion of the video in absence of Ilmi's express consent.

Justice Arora had also earlier order passed in August last year, directing Sardesai to remove the video, till the disposal of the defamation suit.

Today, the Court issued notice on Ilmi's fresh application seeking a direction on Meta (which owns Instagram) and X Corp to take down 8 posts made by their users uploading the 18 seconds part of the impugned video.

As per the application, only one post was uploaded on Instagram whereas other seven posts were made on X corp.

The counsel appearing for Meta platforms told Court that the user post concerning Instagram was made on July 24 last year and the same pre dates the ad interim order passed by the Court on August 13 last year. It was submitted that the platform will abide by any directions issued by the Court.

“The Defendant nos. 3 (X Corp) and 4 (Meta) are forthwith directed to take down the posts published in para 5 [of the application],” the Court said.

The Court noted that the account holders of X Corp had posted the video after the judgment was pronounced on April 04, which as evident from their posts.

The Court then directed X Corp to take appropriate action against the said social media accounts for violating the court orders in terms of their service agreement and in terms of the IT Rules 2021 within one week.

“Compliance report by defendant no 3 within two weeks,” it added.

Justice Arora said that if there are any further instances of the 18 seconds video recording being uploaded which comes to knowledge of Ilmi in view of the findings returned in the judgment dated April 04, she can intimate the counsel, including instagram and YouTube.

“And such information intimation recieved shall be independently examined and evaluated by the concerned defendant and the social media platform.

If it is found to be violative of April 04 order, the said defendant and social media platform will take action… keeping in mind the injunction issued by this court vide order dated 13 August, 2024 and April 04, 2025,” the Court said.

Furthermore, considering that the action of the X Corp account holders of uploading the video portion was in violation of the injunction order passed on April 04, the Court directed the social media platform to provide basic subscriber information to Ilmi within one week.

“Upon information being provided, the plaintiff is directed to take steps for issuance of notice to said account holders for as to why action should not be initiated against them for violating orders of this court,” the Court ordered.

In the injunction order, while the Court granted part relief to Ilmi, it had imposed Rs. 25,000 costs on her for willfully suppressing two tweets made by her, forming part of the same conversation thread of which Sardesai's tweet was part of.

The controversy arose after Ilmi took part in a debate on India Today news channel last year 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.

Title: SHAZIA ILMI v. RAJDEEP SARDESAI & ORS. 

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 430