Delhi HC summons Iyer-Mitra, media portals over alleged disclosure of Saurav Das's address

The Delhi High Court has issued summons to commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra and several media platforms in a plea filed by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Saurav Das, alleging that his residential address and other personal details were published online without consent. X told the court that the posts allegedly containing Das's address had been removed and were no longer accessible.

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued summons to commentator Abhijit Iyer-Mitra and several media platforms in a suit filed by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leader Saurav Das, who has alleged that his residential address and other personal details were published on social media without his consent. The development came during the hearing of Das's plea seeking interim protection against the alleged disclosure of his personal information. The court was informed that X, formerly known as Twitter, had removed the posts allegedly carrying Das's residential address.

Justice Sachin Datta issued notice on Das's application seeking interim relief and directed the defendants to file their replies. The matter will next be heard on September 14. Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Das, submitted that personnel of The Pamphlet had entered his client's residential property without permission and recorded a video.

Sibal alleged that Iyer-Mitra subsequently added to the video and shared it on social media. He further submitted that some posts on X specifically mentioned Das's residential address. Seeking protection for his client, Sibal urged the court to ensure that the posts, which had already been removed by X under its policy, were not restored.

Appearing for X, counsel told the court that the concerned links were "no longer accessible." The submission was recorded by the court. Counsel for The Pamphlet also submitted that the posts were no longer available on X and sought time to respond to the allegations on merits.

The court further 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. Apart from Iyer-Mitra and The Pamphlet, the suit names LawBeat, The Jaipur Dialogues, The Sunday Guardian, Google LLC and X Corp as defendants.

Das has sought permanent and mandatory injunctions against the defendants, besides damages, alleging violation of his privacy, dignity and security. In his plea, Das alleged that his residential address and other personal details were recorded and circulated without his consent. He claimed that the disclosure of his exact address could expose him and other occupants of his residence to security risks.

Das further alleged that representatives of The Pamphlet entered the residential premises where he lives and recorded videos of the property, including its interiors, which were later posted on X. His plea also claimed that he had faced threats and targeted hostility in the past because of his journalistic work, public-interest disclosures and political activities.

During the hearing, Das's counsel emphasised the potential security implications of making a person's residential details publicly available and sought continued protection against any restoration or further circulation of the allegedly offending posts. The court, however, has not yet adjudicated the allegations on merits. The defendants have been given an opportunity to file their responses.

The matter will next come up before the Delhi High Court on September 14. (ANI)