Delhi High Court Issues Urgent Directive Over Defamatory Social Media Posts
The Delhi High Court has taken decisive action by ordering social media users to immediately remove posts that falsely associate Himayani Puri, daughter of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, with convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Justice Mini Pushkarna issued a strict 24-hour deadline for deletion, with a clear warning that social media platforms must step in to block or take down the content if users fail to comply.
Court Recognizes Prima Facie Case and Risk of Irreparable Harm
In its ruling, the court emphasized that Himayani Puri has established a prima facie case and faces the threat of irreparable damage without interim relief. "Consequently, till the next date of hearing, the following directions are issued," stated the court, scheduling further proceedings for August. This interim measure aims to curb the spread of potentially harmful allegations while the legal process unfolds.
Legal Arguments Highlight Global Reputation and Malicious Intent
Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing Himayani Puri, passionately argued for the protection of her "global reputation" as a finance professional. He labeled the allegations as "completely false, reckless and malicious," describing them as a "figment of imagination" driven by an "orchestrated attack" rooted in "personal and political malice." Jethmalani noted that the content was disseminated by individuals identifying as journalists or content creators, and he requested a global takedown order, citing her residence in New York.
Platforms and Defendants Respond to Court Directives
Senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for Meta Platforms, countered that global blocking orders are not standard practice, with content typically restricted on a country-by-country basis. He informed the court that the issue of global blocking is currently under consideration by a division bench of the high court. In response, the court limited its initial order to India, issuing notices to both users and platforms to respond to the case and the plea for interim relief. It clarified that content uploaded outside India must be blocked for users within the country.
One defendant's lawyer argued that their video was protected under "journalistic freedom," but the court deemed this matter requiring further examination and instructed all defendants to file their replies. The lawsuit filed by Himayani Puri seeks Rs 10 crore in damages, an injunction to halt the spread of defamatory material, and an unconditional apology from those involved.
Allegations of a Coordinated Malicious Campaign
In her legal plea, Himayani Puri detailed a "coordinated and malicious online campaign" that began around February 22, 2026, involving false and defamatory posts, articles, videos, and digital content spread across platforms like X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and various digital news portals. She asserted that as an established finance and investment professional, she was targeted solely due to her familial connection to the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas.
The plea further accused defendants of spreading "baseless imputations" suggesting direct or indirect links to Epstein, stating, "The allegations are entirely false, malicious and devoid of factual foundation." This case intersects with ongoing public discussions surrounding the Epstein files, a collection of documents from criminal investigations into sex trafficking involving Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, which have remained in the spotlight since Epstein's death in custody in 2019.
The court's intervention underscores the growing legal challenges in regulating online content and protecting individuals from defamation in the digital age, setting a precedent for how such cases are handled in India's judicial system.
