February 3, 2025: In an ongoing battle to protect her privacy, Aaradhya Bachchan, the granddaughter of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, has escalated her legal fight against the circulation of misleading health videos. The Delhi High Court recently issued a notice on her application seeking a summary judgment in her 2023 lawsuit, after multiple defendants, including Google and various social media platforms, failed to comply with previous court orders to remove the harmful content.
This legal move comes as the videos, which falsely claimed that Aaradhya was severely ill or had even passed away, continue to spread online, despite the court’s initial intervention. Aaradhya’s legal team, led by Advocate Pravin Gandhi, is now seeking an expedited decision, arguing that the defendants’ failure to appear in court has closed their right to defend the case.
Legal Battle Heats Up Over Persistent Fake Content
In 2023, Aaradhya Bachchan filed a lawsuit against various YouTube channels, websites, and unknown defendants, also known as John Doe defendants, who were spreading alarming and false videos about her health. These videos not only made false claims about her condition but also featured morphed images. Aaradhya, the daughter of Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, has been fighting to remove such content, asserting that it violates both her privacy and the intellectual property rights of the Bachchan family.
The court had granted an interim injunction last year, instructing the defendants to take down any harmful videos or content related to Aaradhya Bachchan’s health. However, despite the court’s ruling, the videos continue to circulate on the internet, prompting Aaradhya’s legal team to push for stronger measures.
Court’s Prioritization of Child Privacy
Justice C Hari Shankar, who had earlier ruled in favor of Aaradhya, stressed the importance of protecting the privacy of children, regardless of their public status. “Every child is entitled to be treated with honour and respect, be she the child of a celebrity or the child of a commoner,” the judge had said, emphasizing that the dissemination of misleading information regarding a child’s wellbeing is unacceptable.
Given the ongoing nature of this issue, Aaradhya’s legal team is pushing for summary judgment, which would allow the court to rule on the matter swiftly without the need for an extended trial. This legal process would expedite the case, providing a quicker resolution to what has become a significant privacy violation for Aaradhya and her family.
What Lies Ahead for the Aaradhya Bachchan
The continued spread of harmful content online, despite clear legal directions, highlights the growing challenge of regulating misinformation and protecting personal privacy in the digital age. As Aaradhya Bachchan’s legal battle intensifies, the case underscores the urgent need for stronger measures to prevent the spread of fake news, especially when it involves vulnerable individuals such as children.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2025, where the court will further address the application for summary judgment and evaluate the next steps in this high-profile privacy case.
