In a notable ruling, the Delhi High Court has directed several news channels and social media platforms, including Google, YouTube, and Meta (formerly Facebook), to remove content alleging an extramarital affair involving Vijay Sai Reddy, a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu (YSR) Congress party.

The court’s decision was prompted by a legal plea filed by Reddy, seeking to curb the circulation of defamatory material that he argued was severely damaging to his reputation and personal dignity.

The order, issued by Justice Vikas Mahajan, applies to six prominent news channels—ABN Andhra Jyothi, Mahaa News, TV5 News, Big TV, Aadhan, and Wild Wolf TV—as well as social media platforms where the defamatory content had been widely circulated. Justice Mahajan, in his interim order, found that the allegations of an extramarital affair and claims of Reddy fathering a child with another woman were unfounded rumors propagated without regard for the truth. The content, the court observed, had the potential to cause irreparable harm to the reputations of both Vijay Sai Reddy and the women targeted by the accusations.

During the hearing, Reddy's counsel, Advocate Amit Agrawal, argued that the baseless allegations were recklessly spread by various media outlets, harming Reddy's personal and public image. Agrawal emphasized that these allegations were not only false but had been published and broadcast with malicious intent to tarnish Reddy’s standing. He further stated that the circulation of such content, unchecked, would cause lasting harm to his client’s dignity and could have far-reaching consequences for his political career.

Justice Mahajan, after examining the evidence and submissions, noted that there was sufficient material to suggest that the defamatory videos and posts had been made without regard to the truth and with the intent to injure Reddy's reputation. He observed that the balance of convenience favored the plaintiff and that continuing to allow the defamatory content to remain online could result in “grave and irreparable loss and injury.”

The court’s order mandates the immediate removal of videos and posts containing these defamatory allegations from platforms such as Google, YouTube, Meta, and ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), directing that they restrict access to or block the URLs of the offending content within 10 days. The ruling further stated that failure to comply with this directive could result in legal consequences for the platforms and channels involved.

The controversy initially erupted after the accused news channels conducted panel discussions that focused on allegations of Reddy’s supposed affair, going so far as to claim he had fathered a child with a woman. These accusations quickly spread across social media, sparking public debate and casting a shadow over Reddy's political image. However, the court found no basis for these claims and recognized the serious damage such unverified allegations could cause, not only to Reddy but also to the woman accused of involvement.

In his decision, Justice Mahajan made it clear that while the media has the freedom to report on public figures, it must do so responsibly, especially when it comes to personal allegations. He stressed that reckless reporting without factual basis could not be condoned, particularly when it posed a threat to an individual’s dignity and reputation. He underscored that the right to free speech must be balanced against the right to privacy and protection from defamation.

The ruling also addresses the growing concern over the role of social media in spreading defamatory content. The court’s directive aims to set a precedent for holding both media outlets and social media platforms accountable for the content they allow to be disseminated on their channels. In a time where viral misinformation can severely damage reputations, this case underscores the necessity of ensuring that allegations, especially of a personal nature, are fact-checked before being shared with the public.

Vijay Sai Reddy, a prominent leader of the YSR Congress party, has held key positions within the political sphere, and this incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by public figures who find themselves at the center of such controversies. His legal team has expressed satisfaction with the court’s order, viewing it as a critical step toward safeguarding the dignity of individuals in the public eye and protecting them from the consequences of reckless reporting.

This judgment marks an important moment in the ongoing debate over the responsibility of media and social media platforms in managing content that could potentially harm an individual’s reputation. While the interim order provides immediate relief to Reddy, the court’s final decision on the matter will be closely watched as it could set an important precedent for similar cases in the future. For now, the court’s focus remains on the removal of the defamatory content and ensuring that such allegations do not continue to spread unchecked across media platforms.

The court has also scheduled a future hearing to further address the issue and consider any potential long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents from occurring. As the legal battle continues, the case serves as a reminder of the challenges of balancing freedom of expression with the need for accountability in the digital age