NewKerala.com

Key Points

The Delhi High Court has closed the defamation suit filed by Anjali Birla, daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, against false social media allegations. The court ordered the removal of posts falsely claiming she cleared the UPSC exam due to political influence. Social media platforms X and Google complied with directives to take down defamatory content. The case highlights efforts to combat misinformation targeting public figures and their families.

Key Points: Delhi HC Closes Om Birla Daughter's Defamation Case Against Social Media

  • Delhi HC orders removal of defamatory posts against Anjali Birla
  • Court restricts unidentified defendants from spreading false claims
  • Anjali Birla denied UPSC success linked to political influence
  • Social media platforms complied with court orders to remove content
2 min read

Delhi HC closes defamation suit filed by Om Birla's daughter against social media allegations

Delhi High Court orders removal of defamatory posts against Anjali Birla, daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, over false UPSC claims.

"The suit argued that these unfounded allegations were deliberately circulated to unlawfully damage the plaintiff’s credibility. - Court Documents"

New Delhi, May 13

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday closed the defamation suit filed by Anjali Birla, daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, against social media platforms regarding posts accusing her of clearing the UPSC exam in her first attempt through corrupt means.

The bench of Justice Jyoti Singh considered submissions from social media platform X, which reported that 12 of the 16 disputed posts had been voluntarily removed by their originators. At the same time, access to the remaining four had been restricted.

In its order, the court directed the removal of the remaining four posts and instructed X to remove any additional defamatory content brought to its attention by Birla. Furthermore, Google was ordered to delete a previously blocked post.

In July 2023, the Delhi High Court had directed Google Inc. and X Corp (formerly known as Twitter) to remove posts or content falsely alleging that Anjali Birla cleared the UPSC exam in her first attempt due to her father's influence.

Additionally, the court restricted unidentified defendants, prohibiting them from making further defamatory allegations related to the matter. Anjali Birla, an IRPS officer, had initiated legal proceedings to seek the removal of misleading social media posts that falsely linked her UPSC success to political influence.

The plaintiff emphasised that several social media posts spread false and defamatory information, misrepresenting facts and harming her reputation.

The suit argued that these unfounded allegations were deliberately being circulated to unlawfully damage the plaintiff's credibility through defamatory narratives. Based on this claim alone, the plaintiff asserted that the lawsuit should prevail on its merits.

Furthermore, the suit alleged that specific individuals were attempting to tarnish the plaintiff's professional reputation without any factual basis, seemingly to generate controversy against the present government, specifically targeting her.

The plaintiff also contended that the lawsuit aimed to prevent the defendants from misusing and damaging the reputation of her and her family, including her father, Om Birla, the Speaker of the 18th Lok Sabha. She maintained that there was a concerted effort to spread false and disparaging information that could harm their standing.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
This is a good judgment. UPSC is one of our most respected institutions and such baseless allegations undermine its credibility. Whether she's a politician's daughter or not, if someone clears the exam fairly, they deserve respect. 👍
P
Priya M.
While I support the court's decision, I wish our judiciary showed similar urgency in cases involving common citizens. High-profile cases always get faster resolutions. The system needs to work equally for everyone.
A
Arjun S.
Social media has become a wild west of rumors. Even if 0.1% of such allegations were true (which I doubt in this case), 99.9% are just character assassination attempts. Courts need to come down harder on fake news peddlers.
S
Sunita T.
As someone who has attempted UPSC twice, I know how tough it is. Making such allegations without proof is shameful. But I do wish UPSC would be more transparent about toppers' marksheets to prevent such rumors in future.
V
Vikram J.
The speed at which this case was resolved shows how powerful people get justice quickly. Meanwhile, my property case has been pending for 5 years. Judiciary needs reform at all levels, not just for VIPs.
N
Neha P.
Whether she's a Speaker's daughter or not, no woman should have to face such character attacks. Social media platforms must take more responsibility instead of waiting for court orders to remove defamatory content.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50