Today(13th August), the Delhi High Court ordered Rajdeep Sardesai and India Today to take down a video allegedly showing BJP leader Shazia Ilmi “abusing” a journalist. The order came after Ilmi filed a defamation suit, prompting Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora to act.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: Today(on 13th August), The Delhi High Court has taken legal action by ordering veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and news network India Today to remove a video that was uploaded on social media, which allegedly showed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shazia Ilmi in a compromising situation. The video, which had sparked widespread controversy, purportedly depicted Ilmi “abusing” an India Today video journalist.
Legal Action Initiated by Shazia Ilmi
The directive was issued by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora after Ilmi approached the court with a defamation lawsuit. This legal battle centers around the content of the video and its implications on Ilmi’s reputation and privacy. The video in question was shared by Sardesai on his social media platform, leading to significant public attention and discourse.
High Court’s Examination of the Video
During a previous hearing, the High Court had instructed Sardesai and India Today’s legal counsel to provide the court with the full, unedited version of the video. This was a crucial step in determining the context and content of the events captured. The video was duly submitted and examined by the court.
Upon reviewing the footage, the court observed that the video was recorded by an India Today cameraperson after Ilmi had exited the broadcast show.
The court noted that-
“This court is of the view that since the video was recorded after the plaintiff [Ilmi] had exited the show, the subsequent events are a matter between the plaintiff and Defendant 12 (Cameraperson). Additionally, the issue of the plaintiff’s privacy is something the court will consider after hearing the submissions from Defendant 1, Defendant 2, and Defendant 12.”
Court Orders Temporary Removal of Video
Considering the sensitive nature of the content and the pending legal arguments, Sardesai’s counsel requested an adjournment in the matter. Consequently, the court issued an interim order, directing that the video be removed from all social media platforms until the court decides on Ilmi’s application for interim relief.
The court explicitly ordered that –
“In the meantime, considering the counsel’s request for adjournment, D1 (Sardesai) is directed to take down the video from his social media until the interim relief application is resolved.”
Background of the Dispute: A Heated Debate on Kargil Vijay Diwas
The controversy traces back to a debate hosted by Sardesai on July 26, which focused on the politics surrounding Kargil Vijay Diwas (Kargil Victory Day). The discussion also touched upon the Agniveer scheme and the alleged politicization of the defense forces. During this debate, tensions escalated when BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi intervened while Major General (Retired) Yash Mor was discussing perceived flaws in the Agniveer scheme.
As Ilmi interjected, Sardesai defended Mor by stating that the retired General was presenting “hard facts.” This exchange led to a heated argument, with Ilmi countering “Don’t sermonise.” The confrontation intensified, lasting for several minutes, before Ilmi eventually left the show in protest.
Post-Debate Social Media Fallout
The situation took a new turn later that evening when Ilmi took to her social media account, X (formerly Twitter), to express her grievances against Sardesai. In a scathing tweet, she accused Sardesai of manipulating the audio settings during the show to undermine her statements. She posted-
“Remember, I’ve been on both sides and know how to handle bullies like you. By the way, it’s unseemly for political propagandists posing as journalists to lecture others.”
The controversy deepened the next morning when Sardesai shared a video on his X account, in which he accused Ilmi of mistreating the India Today video journalist who had been sent to her home.
Sardesai stated-
“If you have an issue with me or an army general on the show, that’s your prerogative, and I respect it. However, to throw the mic, abuse our video journalist, and eject him from your home is unacceptable. He was just doing his job, and there’s no excuse for such behavior. I’ll leave the rest to you. Have a good weekend.”
