Delhi HC Reserves Order On Raghav Chadha's Plea To Takedown Posts Alleging He 'Sold Himself For Money'

The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved orders on BJP MP Raghav Chadha's plea seeking interim relief against social media posts that allegedly portrayed him as having “sold himself for money” after his switch from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the BJP.

Chadha has approached the court claiming that the posts unlawfully used his photographs and personal attributes, framing the dispute as one involving personality rights.

Justice Subramonium Prasad, however, indicated prima facie reservations about whether the case genuinely involved personality rights protection. The court observed that the impugned content appeared to be political commentary rather than unauthorised commercial exploitation of Chadha's persona.

“Prima facie, they were only criticism of political decision,” the court observed.

At the outset, the bench questioned the nature of the claim. Referring to the allegedly objectionable use of Chadha's images, Justice Prasad told Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, appearing for Chadha, “It is an attack or critique. Please come to your prayers. It is not a defamation suit. It is a suit on basis of personality rights.”

Nayar argued that the posts crossed the line from criticism into unlawful misuse of Chadha's identity. He submitted that portraying Chadha as someone who had “traded himself for money” could not be dismissed as mere political commentary.

The court drew a distinction between personality rights claims and criticism of a political figure's public actions.

“There is difference between commercialising personality rights and criticism. Shashi Tharoor (judgment) is on way he speaks and his demeanour,” Justice Prasad observed.

The bench also expressed doubt over interim relief. “The line between defamation and criticism is quite thin and this might not be a case for grant of interim injunction, unlike other matters of fame,” the court said.

The court added that it may consider appointing an amicus curiae to assist on the legal issue.

Chadha has sought John Doe relief against unknown entities, apart from named defendants. He has sought to restrain them from using his photographs, likeness, and personal traits without consent.

The court said the plaint would be registered as a suit and reserved orders on interim relief.