3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Aug 24, 2026 02:27 PM IST
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das and party members outside Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi, where the Cockroach Janta Party has sought action against self-proclaimed Hindutva influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who claimed to have assaulted a protester's father at Jantar Mantar, September 4, 2026. Follow The Indian Express for breaking news and live news updates from India and around the world. (File photo)
The Delhi High Court Monday issued summons to digital media portals, social media intermediaries and political commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra over allegations that they invaded the privacy of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das by circulating his residential address.
Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Das, told Justice Sachin Datta that some of the posts cited in the suit, which disclosed Das’ residential address, had already been taken down by X Corp (formerly Twitter). He urged the court to ensure that they were not restored.
Justice Datta, without passing any orders, directed the defendant parties to file their replies in 10 days.
The Pamphlet, a digital media channel on YouTube and one of the defendant parties, represented by advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, told the court that their Twitter (X Corp) posts, which Das has objected to, are no longer available.
Sibal, on the other hand, pointed out that “personnel” of The Pamphlet had entered the property in New Delhi where Das lives “without consent and had then put up a video” of the residence. Sibal added that Iyer-Mitra had relied on this video “to add to it”.
What Das said in his suit
Das has sought an injunction against the circulation of his private details, such as his residential address, along with taking down personal information that continues to remain in the public domain.
His suit states that owing to his journalistic work and political engagement, he has been “subjected to violent threats and targeted hostility” in the past.
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Das said repeated disclosure and amplification of his precise residential address “creates a real and foreseeable risk of his being subjected to violence at and around his home.” He added that such disclosure also places the other occupants of the premises at risk, and has caused him “grave and continuing apprehension for their safety and security”.
Police complaint filed
Earlier this month, Das had filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against certain social media handles for entering and filming his Greater Kailash residence in his absence, calling the act “unlawful”.
In his complaint, Das named two YouTube channels, the Pamphlet and the Jaipur Dialogues, and alleged that Mitra “drew attention to his residence” and “interfered with his peaceful possession of the premises,” besides invading his privacy.
He further alleged that the YouTubers had spoken to the caretaker and security personnel at his residence, as well as his neighbours, to gather information about him.
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The CJP spokesperson sought the registration of an FIR under charges of criminal trespass and house-trespass, criminal intimidation, and defamation.
Sohini Ghosh is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express. Previously based in Ahmedabad covering Gujarat, she recently moved to the New Delhi bureau, where she primarily covers legal developments at the Delhi High Court
Professional Profile
Background: An alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), she previously worked with ET NOW before joining The Indian Express.
Core Beats: Her reporting is currently centered on the Delhi High Court, with a focus on high-profile constitutional disputes, disputes over intellectual property, criminal and civil cases, issues of human rights and regulatory law (especially in the areas of technology and healthcare).
Earlier Specialty: In Gujarat, she was known for her rigorous coverage in the beats of crime, law and policy, and social justice issues, including the 2002 riot cases, 2008 serial bomb blast case, 2016 flogging of Dalits in Una, among others.
She has extensively covered health in the state, including being part of the team that revealed the segregation of wards at the state’s largest government hospital on lines of faith in April 2020.
With Ahmedabad being a UNESCO heritage city, she has widely covered urban development and heritage issues, including the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting from the Delhi High Court covers major political, constitutional, corporate, and public-interest legal battles:
High-Profile Case Coverage
She has extensively covered the various legal battles - including for compensation under the aegis of North East Delhi Riots Claims Commission - pertaining to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, as well as 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
She has also led coverage at the intersection of technology and governance, and its impact on the citizenry, from, and beyond courtrooms — such as the government’s stakeholder consultations for framing AI-Deepfake policy.
Signature Style
Sohini is recognized for her sustained reporting from courtrooms and beyond. She specialises in breaking down dense legal arguments to make legalese accessible for readers. Her transition from Gujarat to Delhi has seen her expand her coverage on regulatory, corporate and intellectual property law, while maintaining a strong commitment to human rights and lacuna in the criminal justice system.
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