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Journalism of Courage
BJP national spokesperson and senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia, in a defamation suit on Tuesday before the Delhi High Court, argued for the take down of alleged defamatory content across social media over a video of his that went viral recently.
Taking objection to posts on social media where “defamatory statements” are being made against him, Bhatia, arguing before Justice Amit Bansal, also claimed an “invasion of privacy”. He said he was sitting at his home on September 12, from when the purported objectionable video, where he is improperly dressed, is being circulated “without my consent”.
While Justice Bansal remarked orally, “When you’re in politics you’ve to be thick skinned”, Bhatia responded that while he appreciates political leaders being thick-skinned and also appreciates a sense of humour, what he is objecting to is use of offensive and abusive language.
He added that some of the said defamatory posts also refer to male private parts.
Bhatia, while seeking the court’s intervention, also emphasised that the alleged defamatory content “has to be removed because there is AI-generated content, pictures are being morphed”.
Among those he is accusing of defamatory content include the Samajwadi Party’s IT Cell.
The court, however, orally opined that it will have to distinguish satirical comments from defamatory comments, referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling where courts have been cautioned against ex-parte takedown orders.
Bhatia, however, impressed that “wherever references to male private parts are made, wherever abusive language has been used, those need to be taken down”.
The court has now posted the matter for September 25 for further consideration.
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