Delhi court orders AAP, Saurabh Bharadwaj to remove defamatory posts against BJP's Bansuri Swaraj

A Delhi court on Thursday ordered AAP and its leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj and Ankush Narang to remove the defamatory post against BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj about her detention by Delhi Police during the protest over the defeat of Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026.

Principal District & Sessions Judge Gurvinder Pal Singh of the Saket Court passed an interim order and also restrained Bharadwaj, AAP and Narang from publishing, hosting, uploading, circulating, reposting or disseminating the defamatory content in the video dated April 19, 2026.

"In view of the foregoing discussions, the Defendants are accordingly restrained from continuing to publish, host, uploading / circulating / reposting or disseminating the defamatory content in video dated 19.04.2026 and the defamatory content in press conference dated 21.04.2026 on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube or any other social media platform or digital medium as well as to forth with take down and remove the same from all such social media platforms and to postpone publications of said defamatory content from all social media platforms, till the next date of hearing," the Court ordered.

The dispute arose from a video posted on April 19, showing Swaraj protesting at the residence of Rahul Gandhi. The participants at the March included the Union Minister of State Raksha Khadse, Swaraj and several other leaders of the BJP.

It was stated that the Delhi Police detained Swaraj, Khadse and others. Swaraj said that when they were being escorted to the police bus, in a natural act of solidarity and support, she held Khadse's hand.

Swaraj contended that Bharadwaj circulated a video under the scurrilous banner 'Bharatiye Drama Company'/ 'BJP Drama Company'. According to the allegations, Bharadwaj superimposed a red circle with the text “Police officer's hand held intentionally ” on the footage.

He added, " Instead of Police Officers taking Nepo-Kid MP, Bansuri Swaraj into detention, it is Nepo-Kid taking Police Officer into detention."

It is Swaraj's case that AAP and its leaders defamed her and caused irreparable harm through the edited video.

AAP and its leaders opposed the grant of any interim order, arguing that they had insufficient time to respond. They also questioned the authenticity and current availability of the alleged content. They said that Swaraj's plea was vague and premature.

However, the Court ruled that Swaraja had established a prima facie case. It held that the balance of convenience lay in her favour and that irreparable harm to her reputation could occur if the content remained accessible.

"In the instant case, the reputation of the Plaintiff is at stake. Reputation of the Plaintiff would suffer irreparable harm if injunctions as prayed for are not granted as she would suffer further loss to her reputation," the Court added.

It then proceeded to pass an interim injunction order.

The case will be heard next on May 15.

Advocates Siddhesh Kotwal, Manya Hasija, Ana Upadhyay, Paritosh Anil, Shubhansh Patel, Saurabh Guha, and Anupriya Poddar.

[Read Order]