The Telangana High Court has restrained more than 50 news channels, media platforms, and unidentified persons from publishing or circulating allegedly defamatory, speculative, AI-generated, or unverified material about Bandi Sai Bhageerath while an investigation into a rape case against him is pending.
Justice EV Venugopal issued the interim order after Bhageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and BJP leader Bandi Sanjay Kumar, challenged media coverage of the case. The court also directed intermediaries to remove or block similar material when its details are brought to their attention. The matter is next listed for November 5.
An FIR was registered against Bhageerath at Petbasheerabad police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after a minor girl accused him of sexual abuse and rape.
In his plea, Bhageerath alleged that media reports and social media posts had portrayed him as guilty before the investigation was complete. He also alleged that morphed and AI-generated images of him and his family, including images depicting him as Ravana, had been circulated. He said content concerning his father had also been shared, harming their reputation.
Bhageerath’s petition further alleged that a media campaign had targeted the judge who handled his bail proceedings, as well as lawyers and public prosecutors associated with the case.
The petitioner sought restrictions on reporting that declared him guilty or amounted to a media trial. He also asked the court to direct Google, Meta, and X to remove offending material and preserve related digital records, including account information, metadata, and upload histories.
The court allowed the applications seeking interim relief, including the request for a mechanism to remove or block further material of the specified nature after the petitioner or his lawyers notified the intermediaries. It also granted the petitioner liberty to return to court if there is a dispute over whether particular material falls within the order.
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