Delhi High Court Orders Removal of Kejriwal Video from Social Media Platforms

The Delhi High Court has issued a directive requiring social media platforms to remove videos featuring Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, in which he requested Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to recuse herself from the case regarding the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal against his discharge in the Delhi liquor policy issue. This decision came after widespread sharing of these videos online, raising concerns about the integrity of ongoing judicial proceedings.

The controversy began when videos of Kejriwal’s arguments presented in the High Court on April 13 circulated widely on various social media channels. Following this, the court ordered the authorities to take action against unauthorized recordings. By April 15, police were instructed to remove these videos, which were deemed to undermine the dignity of the court.

On Thursday, a bench comprising Justices V Kameshwar Rao and Manpreet Pritam Singh Arora deliberated on a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought to initiate contempt proceedings against Kejriwal and journalist Ravish Kumar. The PIL accused them of unlawfully recording and disseminating the court proceedings. Alongside them, other politicians including Congress leader Digvijay Singh and several AAP members were also named in the plea, highlighting the broader implications of the case for political figures in the public eye.

During the proceedings, representatives from Meta, the parent company of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, informed the court of their compliance with the removal order. Meanwhile, Google clarified that some flagged YouTube videos did not originate from the court proceedings but indicated willingness to remove any that might violate the court’s directives.

This incident underscores the ongoing tension between social media and legal proceedings in India, particularly concerning the unauthorized sharing of court activities that can influence public perception and the legal process. It reflects the challenges faced by the judiciary in maintaining decorum while navigating the complexities of digital media.

Source: scroll.in