The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed an Odia news channel to remove re-uploaded links to disputed material concerning the Divisional Railway Manager of East Coast Railway, Waltair. Justice Sunitha Gandham also barred the channel from uploading the same material again through any account or channel under its control, pending further action in accordance with law. The Court made clear that it was expressing no opinion on the truth of the material or on the allegations.
Background
The petitioner, Anup Kumar Satpathy, is the Divisional Railway Manager, East Coast Railway, Waltair, Visakhapatnam. According to his petition, he was on leave from October 12 to 14, 2022. On rejoining duty, he learnt that News 8 Odia (respondent No. 7) was broadcasting his photographs and personal details, falsely linking him to an unknown blackmailer.
He alleged that the channel falsely claimed he had absconded from duty, circulated doctored audio attributed to him, and morphed his images. He also alleged that it tried to extort money from him. These videos, he claimed, were spread through YouTube, Facebook and WhatsApp groups.
On his complaint, the Cyber Crime Police Station, Visakhapatnam City, registered Crime No. 507 of 2022 under Sections 469, 499 and 500 of the IPC and Section 72 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. On October 26, 2022, the police issued notices to YouTube and Meta to furnish details of those circulating the videos and to delete them. The petitioner approached the High Court alleging that the content continued to circulate despite these notices.
Submissions
Advocate A. Sai Naveen appeared for the petitioner. The investigating officer, through written instructions, stated that the investigation was still in progress. The Assistant Government Pleader for Home submitted that the news channel had not been responding to calls made by the police.
Advocate Ahluwalia, appearing for YouTube, submitted that the link had earlier been removed but the channel kept uploading the same material again and again. He suggested that the petition be disposed of with a direction to the channel to delete the re-uploaded link.
Court’s Directions
Noting that the investigation was pending, the Court decided to prevent continued circulation of the disputed link while letting the investigation proceed. It clarified: “No opinion is expressed on the truth or otherwise of the disputed material, the allegations made in the complaint, or the culpability of any person.”
The Court directed the channel to remove the re-uploaded links, insofar as they are within its control. It also barred the channel from re-uploading the material, or causing it to be re-uploaded, through any account or channel under its control. The Court added that “This direction is confined to the disputed material forming the subject matter of this writ petition and shall not be construed as a finding on the merits of the allegations.”
The investigating officer was left free to continue the investigation and pursue the requests already made to the online platforms. The Court directed that “Respondent No. 7 shall cooperate with the investigation and respond to lawful notices issued by the investigating officer.”
Outcome
The writ petition was disposed of with these directions, with no order as to costs. The parties are free to pursue their remedies in accordance with law if any further grievance survives.
Case Title: Anup Kumar Satpathy v. Union of India and Others
Case No.: Writ Petition No. 37689 of 2022
Bench: Justice Sunitha Gandham
Date: October 30, 2026
