Anjali Birla, an Indian Railway Personnel Service officer and daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, has petitioned the Delhi High Court to remove social media posts claiming she passed the UPSC exams due to her father’s influence.
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NEW DELHI: Anjali Birla, an Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer and daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, has approached the Delhi High Court with a plea to take down social media posts alleging she cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams on her first attempt due to her father’s influence.
The petition, represented by Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, was mentioned before Justice Navin Chawla for urgent listing.
Justice Chawla granted an urgent hearing of the case today(23rd July).
Birla has claimed that the social media allegations are both defamatory and false. The case, filed through advocates Sanyam Khetarpal and Aditya Manubarwala, targets social media posts that went viral after Om Birla’s election as Speaker of the Lok Sabha and amid the NEET UG paper leak controversy. These posts alleged that Anjali Birla, who some claimed is a model by profession, cleared the UPSC exams on her first attempt due to her father’s “powerful position.”
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Anjali Birla has vehemently denied these accusations, stating that these social media handles are “being operated in a pre-planned conspiracy” with the intent of defaming her and her father. She has made social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Google, and John Doe (unknown people) parties to her suit, seeking the removal of the defamatory posts.
Birla’s suit details 16 X accounts from which she seeks relief, including the parody account of YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.
Contrary to the claims made on social media, Anjali Birla is not an IAS officer but an IRPS officer. She took the UPSC exams in 2019 and joined the Indian Railway Personnel Service in April 2021. Last year, she completed her compulsory training.
The influence of social media in spreading misinformation and defamation is a growing concern. This case highlights the potential damage that can be caused by false allegations and the legal recourse available to those affected. Anjali Birla’s proactive steps to seek justice and protect her reputation demonstrate the importance of addressing and countering defamatory content on digital platforms.
