The Delhi High Court on Saturday directed Congress leaders Ragini Nayak, Jairam Ramesh, and Pawan Khera to remove tweets alleging that journalist Rajat Sharma used abusive language on air. The court also ordered Google India Private Limited to make videos in the public domain private, specifically YouTube videos and Twitter posts made by the three Congress leaders, the Indian National Congress, and others.
The controversy erupted when Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak accused Sharma of using abusive language towards her during a discussion on India TV on the day of the 2024 Lok Sabha election results. Several Congress leaders shared a video clip purportedly showing Sharma using foul language against Nayak.
On June 10, Nayak posted the video on social media and filed a police complaint against Sharma. The following day, Sharma alleged that the Congress party’s media cell had launched a false campaign against him as part of a conspiracy.
The court’s decision came after it heard Sharma’s plea seeking to restrain Congress leaders from making further allegations against him regarding the use of foul language during the television debate. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Sharma, argued that the circulated clip had been manipulated to include abusive language that was not originally part of the broadcast. Singh played the original video clip in court to explain his point.
Singh highlighted the delay in the allegations, noting that the Congress leaders did not raise any grievance until six days after the live telecast. He suggested that the accusations were part of a deliberate effort against Sharma’s reputation.
“The program is live telecast. They had no grievance till June 10th night, for six days. Surely defendant nos. 4-6 (Congress leaders) are having friends, followers and family members who would have pointed out if they heard. They got into some design (against Sharma)…,” Singh argued.
Singh urged the immediate removal of the tweets, saying they were damaging his decades-long reputation.
“I (Sharma) am not known for shouting or abusing anyone. I am known for my civilised behaviour,” Sharma submitted.
