Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai has approached a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court challenging a single judge’s order directing him to take down an 18-second video clip allegedly showing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shazia Ilmi in an altercation with an India Today journalist.
The order under challenge was passed by Justice Manmeet Singh Arora, who on April 4 held that the clip violated Ilmi’s right to privacy and could not be allowed to remain online. The single judge also confirmed an earlier interim direction passed in August 2024, ordering the video’s removal from Sardesai’s X (formerly Twitter) account. The Court had, however, imposed ₹25,000 as costs on Ilmi for suppressing certain tweets related to the incident.
On May 30, the appeal came up before a Division Bench comprising Justices Navin Chawla and Renu Bhatnagar. Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, appearing for Sardesai, submitted that the single judge had relied on a truncated video to arrive at conclusions. He contended that Ilmi had suppressed key facts.
The Bench, however, declined to take up the matter urgently and listed the case for hearing in July. “Why has it come on the last day (the High Court closes for its vacations today)? We will have it in July,” Justice Chawla remarked.
Meanwhile, the Court permitted Sardesai to place relevant video footage on record through a pendrive.
Background of the Case
The controversy stems from a debate aired on India Today on July 26, 2024, hosted by Sardesai. Ilmi had joined the show remotely from her residence. During the discussion on the Agnipath scheme, she interrupted Retired Major General Yash Mor, who was voicing criticism of the policy. Sardesai defended the former General, stating he was presenting “hard facts,” leading to a heated exchange with Ilmi, who eventually exited the debate.
That same night, Ilmi posted on X, accusing Sardesai of muting her audio during the show and wrote, “Remember I have been on both the sides and know how to handle bullies like you…”
In response, Sardesai shared a video alleging that Ilmi had abused and thrown out the India Today journalist who had gone to her house to facilitate the remote broadcast. He claimed Ilmi had thrown a microphone at the journalist after withdrawing from the show.
Ilmi subsequently filed a defamation suit, asserting that her right to privacy was infringed when the journalist continued filming after she had exited the debate. In August 2024, the High Court issued an interim injunction requiring Sardesai to remove the contested video.
Developments on Platform X
The matter escalated further when, despite court orders, several users on X continued to circulate the video. In April 2025, the Court issued contempt notices against such users and directed X Corp to disclose their basic subscriber information (BSI). X later sought a modification of this directive, raising privacy concerns.
However, Justice Arora rejected X’s plea earlier this month and ordered the platform to provide the BSI details within 36 hours. Expressing displeasure over the continued circulation of the video, the judge remarked, “It was surprising that people were using the judgment and video together. It was a mockery of the judgment.”
At X Corp’s request, the Court agreed to keep open the issue of the extent to which the privacy of such users must be safeguarded. This aspect of the matter is scheduled to be taken up on August 29.
