Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has moved to Bombay High Court
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has moved to Bombay High Court against various social media and websites seeking to restrain them from publishing defamatory content against her in connection with the arrest of her husband Raj Kundra in porn film case.
She has sought almost 29 defendants to take down defamatory content against her and also issue an apology. The New Indian Express, India TV, Free Press Journal, NDTV, Facebook, and Instagram among others have been made parties to the defamation suit by her.
Shetty submitted that the defendants are smearing her reputation with the aim of sensationalizing news and increasing their readership and viewership.
The application also contends that the defendants are making a mockery of the judicial system by themselves by condemning her and her husband guilty itself.
The plea states: “A bare perusal of the Defamatory Articles and Defamatory Videos amply clarify that the Defendants are publishing/ uploading parallel private ‘investigations’ and effectively acting as ‘courts’ to condemn the Applicant and her husband as guilty based on what they claim is ‘evidence’ found by them from their alleged sources, thereby trying to make a mockery of the judicial system,”
The actress, therefore, sought an injunction against the defendants from publishing further any false or defamatory information and sought to remove such defamatory contents from the social media platforms.
[UPDATE] The Bombay High Court on Friday directed media houses and social media platforms to ensure that videos and post made against Shilpa Shetty in relation to arrest of her husband Raj Kundra, shall not be uploaded back online.
The Single bench judge of Justice GS Patel stated that the order should not be construed as a gag on media and also refused to grant any other interim relief sought by Shetty.
The order stated “That part is protected by her right of privacy under the wide protection recognised by Supreme Court and freedom of press has to be balanced with right of privacy,“