‘No authority to record’: Delhi HC orders India Today, Rajdeep to take down video against Ilmi

Delhi High Court has ordered anchor Rajdeep Sardesai and India Today to “take down” a video posted by Sardesai on X, which purportedly shows BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi allegedly “abusing” a video journalist from the channel, Bar and Bench reported. The court said the video must be removed for interim relief until its decision on the defamation suit filed by Ilmi. 

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora reviewed the unedited video, placed on record by India Today, and passed the order today. The court noted that the video was recorded after Ilmi had removed herself from the show, and it was an issue of privacy.  

“What authority does Sardesai and India Today have to post this footage? I am asking you because we want to know at what stage the cameraperson stops rolling? Is it when the  person says I am leaving or does it continue to roll? You must take down this video. You had no authority to record and no authority to use,” said the court. 

In the court, Ilmi’s counsel had said the video was “causing a lot of trauma to her…professionally and personally it is causing a lot of damage to her. People are saying BJP people are camera beaters.” Following the order, she took to X and called the video a “political sting”.

Meanwhile, Sardesai’s counsel sought an adjournment in the matter. The matter will be next heard on August 16. 

The video in question, posted by Sardesai on July 27, showed Ilmi taking off her mic at her home during a debate on “Politics over Kargil Vijay Diwas” on the channel’s primetime show Big Debate. When the channel’s video journalist turned the camera towards Ilmi again, she charged at him, saying “get out of my house”, the clip purportedly showed.   

Ilmi was ostensibly angry after she was stopped from interrupting retired Major General Yash Mor. A heated argument had ensured between her and Sardesai, resulting in her walkout and subsequent outrage on X. 

How did the controversy flare up? Read here.