New Delhi: Taking a strict view of allegedly defamatory content circulating on social media, the Delhi High Court has directed major digital platforms to remove the concerned posts and articles within 24 hours. The order came during the hearing of a defamation suit filed by the daughter of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Hearing the matter, a single-judge bench instructed platforms including X, Google, Meta (Facebook), YouTube and LinkedIn to immediately take down all allegedly objectionable and false content related to the petitioner. The court further observed that if the original uploaders fail to remove the content, the intermediary platforms will be obligated to block access to such material within India.
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Court Mandates 24-Hour Takedown of Defamatory Content
The court, however, refrained from passing any direction for global blocking of the content at this stage. The issue of worldwide takedown is already pending before a larger bench, where global tech companies have raised objections. In view of this, the court limited its interim relief to blocking access within India.
The petitioner, Himayani Puri, stated in her plea that a coordinated and malicious online campaign has been underway against her since February 22, 2026. The campaign allegedly attempted to link her with convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, making false claims of financial, professional and personal associations.
Allegations of ‘Malicious Campaign’ Linking Petitioner to Jeffrey Epstein
The plea further claimed that certain posts alleged that organizations she was associated with had received tainted funds linked to Epstein or his associates. Additionally, some content accused her of having a role in the collapse of global financial firm Lehman Brothers. The petitioner termed all such allegations as entirely false, misleading and defamatory.
₹10 Crore Damages Sought in High-Profile Defamation Suit
Through her petition, she sought not only the removal of the posts but also a permanent injunction against the platforms and unidentified individuals involved. She has also claimed ₹10 crore in damages for the harm caused to her reputation.
Intermediary Liability: Platforms Ordered to Block Access Within India
During the proceedings, the court emphasized that digital platforms have a responsibility to act promptly against content that appears prima facie defamatory. It underlined that while freedom of expression is a fundamental right, protection of an individual’s reputation holds equal importance.
