A Mumbai City Civil Court has ordered Meta and Reddit to remove defamatory posts related to a Rs 9 crore defamation suit filed by actor and filmmaker Sayani Gupta. The interim order, passed on September 4, restrains the defendants from publishing or circulating defamatory material about Gupta, while allowing the removal of such content from Meta, Reddit, and Deccan Chronicle, according to medianama.com.
The suit arises from allegations that Gupta's short film Aasmani plagiarised Prabha, an unfinished documentary by filmmaker Vinita Negi. Gupta's legal complaint describes these allegations as false, misleading, unsubstantiated, and defamatory. Additional Sessions Judge Shudhirkumar Murlidharrao Bukke clarified that the order does not decide the plagiarism claim or prevent Negi from pursuing her case. The court distinguished between defamatory content and accurate, verified information based on official investigations or judicial findings.
This ruling highlights the legal responsibilities of social media platforms like Meta and Reddit in managing content related to ongoing disputes. It underscores the need to balance the removal of defamatory material with the preservation of truthful information. The case also reflects the broader challenges courts face in addressing online defamation while respecting freedom of expression and ongoing litigation.
The court's interim order explicitly allows defendant Vinita Negi to take legal action and publish fact-based content. It directs platforms to remove only defamatory content, not verified information, marking a nuanced approach to content moderation in defamation suits. The next hearing date has not been disclosed, leaving the plagiarism claim unresolved for now.