Court Summons and Interim Relief Sought
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to commentator Abhijit Iyer Mitra and several media platforms in a civil suit filed by Saurav Das, a spokesperson for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Das alleges that his residential address and other personal details were unlawfully placed in the public domain, raising concerns about his privacy, dignity, and personal security.
Justice Sachin Datta, presiding over the matter, issued notice on Das's suit as well as on his application seeking interim restraint against further publication of the contested information. The court also granted time to Das to file an amended memo of parties, allowing him to implead the correct party, as reported by Deccan Chronicle and The Times of India.
The defendants have been granted 10 days to file their written statements, and the matter is listed for further hearing on September 14, according to Times Now and Deccan Chronicle.
Allegations in Das's Suit
Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Das, submitted that personnel of The Pamphlet—a media platform named as a defendant—had entered Das's rented residential property in Greater Kailash without permission and recorded its interiors. The footage, according to the suit, was published on X (formerly Twitter) on August 5, with a republishing on August 10. The video reportedly accumulated more than 8.1 million views, details provided solely by Hindustan Times.
Das further alleged that Iyer Mitra subsequently edited and added to the footage before sharing it on social media, a claim that appears in The Times of India's account. The suit also alleges that Iyer Mitra, at a programme hosted by LawBeat, disclosed details about Das's residence, including identifying his neighbor and incorrectly stating the monthly rent to be around ₹7 lakh. Das maintained that the disclosure of his exact address could expose him and other occupants of his residence to security risks.
Besides the video, Das claimed that some posts on X specifically mentioned his residential address, and that the defendants had unlawfully recorded and published his background, parent particulars, and sexuality, as detailed in Deccan Chronicle and The Times of India.
The suit, which seeks permanent and mandatory injunctions to restrain publication and dissemination of the contested details, also claims damages of ₹2 crore, according to reports by only Hindustan Times.
The Court's Objectives
During the hearing, the court was informed that X, through its counsel, had removed the posts containing Das's residential address and other personal information. X's representative stated that the links were "no longer accessible" and that they had been taken down in line with the platform's own guidelines, a submission that multiple reports attributed to X.
Representing The Pamphlet and Iyer Mitra, their respective counsel also mentioned that the posts were no longer accessible, with The Pamphlet seeking time to respond on the merits of the allegations. According to Times of India, counsel for Iyer Mitra also oppose the suit, arguing that there was no cause of action against him.
Justice Datta allowed Das to correct the name of The Sunday Guardian in the proceedings and permitted him to amend the memo of parties and plaint within three days.
Background on the Plaintiff
Das, who identifies as a journalist, says he has faced violent threats and targeted hostility as a result of his reporting, public-interest disclosures, and political engagement. He pleaded that the publication of his residential details, which he claimed to have been disseminated without consent, directly jeopardizes his security and that of the other residents at his Greater Kailash address.
The suit comes as Das has filed an application seeking to stop further circulation of personal information, which, if ignored, could escalate the need for court intervention. Reported by Deccan Herald and The Times of India, the allegations also imply the possibility of criminal actions, but specifics have not been elaborated in the current coverage.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 14.