The Delhi High Court today ordered Google and X (formerly Twitter) to take down social media posts alleging that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s daughter Anjali Birla cleared Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams in her very first attempt because of her father’s influence.
Justice Navin Chawla passed the interim order today and directed X (formerly Twitter) and Google to remove the posts within 24 hours. The Delhi High Court also restrained unknown persons (John Doe) defendants from making defamatory allegations against Birla in relation to the matter. It stated that Birla has been able to make out a prima facie case that the posts in question are defamatory.
Appearing for Anjali Birla, Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar argued that similar allegations had earlier surfaced in the year 2021 but after fact-checks by news publications revealing Birla to be an IRPS officer, the controversy died down.
The senior counsel argued that Birla became an officer in the year 2021 but now suddenly these things have come up again because of the NEET and UPSC exams controversy. He added that Birla’s private pictures are being shared online saying she is a model.
Anjali Birla lodged the defamation case through Advocates Sanyam Khetarpal and Aditya Manubarwala. Notably, claims that Anjali Birla became an IAS officer because of her father’s powerful position went viral on social media soon after Om Birla’s election as Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the eruption of the NEET UG paper leak controversy.
Multiple social media posts alleged that Anjali Birla is a model by profession and it was because of her father’s powerful position that she cleared the UPSC exams in her very first attempt. Nonetheless, Anjali Birla rubbished the claims and said that these social media handles were being operated in a pre-planned conspiracy and guided by the motive of defaming her and her father.
In the plea, Anjali Birla made X (formerly Twitter), Google and John Doe (unknown people) party to her suit and sought take down of those posts. She also furnished details of 16 X accounts against whom relief was sought including the parody account of YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.
As opposed to the claims made in the social media posts, Birla is not in the IAS but is an IRPS officer. She appeared for the UPSC exams in 2019 and joined the commission in April 2021. She also completed her compulsory training the previous year.