The Delhi High Court has ordered BJP leader Shazia Ilmi to pay ₹25,000 after finding she suppressed key tweets in her defamation case against journalist Rajdeep Sardesai. The dispute stemmed from Sardesai’s social media post about a viral video clip involving Ilmi and an India Today video journalist.
While granting partial interim relief to Ilmi, the court penalized her for failing to disclose all relevant tweets in her legal plea. The court directed the payment to the Delhi High Court Bar Clerks’ Association within three weeks.
At the heart of the controversy was an 18-second video clip showing an altercation between Ilmi and a journalist. The court upheld a previous order mandating the video’s removal, ruling that the footage—recorded after Ilmi left a live debate—violated her right to privacy. However, the court dismissed Ilmi’s claim that the journalist had acted inappropriately or that the footage was doctored.
Sardesai’s tweet accused Ilmi of abusing the journalist and ejecting him from her home. While the court struck down parts of his statement, it did not find fault with his remarks about her alleged misconduct. The judge also noted that Sardesai’s tweet fell outside journalistic norms and was more of a personal comment.
The dispute originated from a televised debate on the Agnipath scheme, during which Ilmi and Sardesai clashed. Following the broadcast, Ilmi accused Sardesai of muting her microphone, prompting a heated online exchange. Sardesai later shared the controversial video, leading Ilmi to seek legal action.
The court’s latest ruling reinforces its earlier directive for Sardesai to remove the video, marking a legal setback for both parties in a case that continues to stir political and media circles.
