A Delhi court has restrained Google, Meta and a range of unidentified parties, including media houses, from publishing or hosting content that links Manoj Kesari Chand Sandesara or his family to the alleged Sterling Biotech Limited bank fraud case.
Senior Civil Judge Richa Chadha of the Tis Hazari Courts issued an ex parte interim injunction, directing the platforms and “John Doe” defendants to de-index, de-list and remove references to specific articles and URLs flagged by Sandesara. The court further ordered that any additional links, even if not explicitly identified in the plea, must also be taken down from search results and platforms within 36 hours.
The order, passed on April 4, came after Sandesara filed a defamation suit, arguing that multiple news reports and online videos continued to portray him and his family as fugitives and perpetrators of financial crimes. He contended that such material remained accessible despite the closure of proceedings against him.
According to the plea, the Supreme Court of India had, in November and December 2025, accepted a settlement involving payments exceeding ₹5,100 crore to banks and ordered the quashing of criminal cases and related investigations against the promoters.
Sandesara also invoked the “right to be forgotten,” arguing that continued circulation of such content violates his fundamental rights to privacy and dignity, while inflicting ongoing reputational damage.
Agreeing with the submissions, the court held that continued publication or circulation of material linking Sandesara and his family to the case would cause stigma and harm. It observed that freedom of the press is not absolute and must operate within reasonable limits.
The court noted that the language used in several headlines imputed criminality to the plaintiff, and that the continued availability of such content—even after legal proceedings had been quashed—had the potential to seriously damage reputation in ways monetary compensation could not adequately address.
Emphasising the responsibility of the media, the court said reporting must adhere to standards of accuracy, objectivity and fairness, and avoid sensationalism. It then granted the interim injunction, directing immediate compliance.
Also Read: Food, Faith and Fascism in New India https://www.vibesofindia.com/food-faith-and-fascism-in-new-india/
