The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered the removal of allegedly defamatory online content linking Himayani Puri, the daughter of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Live Law reported.
Justice Mini Pushkarna directed that the takedown order would apply only within India for now because the matter pertaining to the scope of global takedowns is pending before another bench of the High Court.
The judge said that while content uploaded from within India must be removed, that uploaded from outside should be blocked from being accessed in the country.
The court added that if the uploaders fail to remove the videos and links within 24 hours, the posts must be blocked by the social media platforms, Bar and Bench reported.
Pushkarna was hearing a defamation suit filed by Himayani Puri, who has sought damages of Rs 10 crore and the removal of the allegedly defamatory content posted on several online platforms.
The court observed that a prima facie case had been made out and that the failure to grant relief could cause “irreparable injury” to her reputation, Bar and Bench reported.
During the hearing, the counsel for internet intermediaries, including Google and Meta, argued against a global takedown order, stating that the question of whether Indian courts can order worldwide content blocking is pending before a division bench of the High Court.
They urged the court to first consider their detailed responses before passing an order.
Himayani Puri’s counsel argued that the allegations made in the posts were false and part of a coordinated campaign to damage her reputation, stating that she was being targeted because she is the daughter of a Union minister, Live Law reported.
The court declined to issue a global blocking order at this stage and said it would consider the request after hearing all parties.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 7.
The “Epstein files” refer to millions of documents, emails, photos and videos released by the United States department of justice detailing the activities of Epstein, an American financier and convicted child sex offender, and his social circle that included politicians, celebrities and several public figures.
The documents released on January 30 contained email exchanges between Hardeep Singh Puri and Epstein that began in June 2014.
The minister has said that his conversations with Epstein had nothing to do with the crimes for which the American financier had been convicted.
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