Delhi HC imposes fine on Shazia Ilmi for hiding facts in plea against journalist Rajdeep Sardesai

Delhi High Court imposes ₹25,000 costs on BJP leader Shazia Ilmi for suppressing facts in defamation plea.

The Delhi High Court on Friday (April 4, 2025) imposed ₹25,000 costs on BJP leader Shazia Ilmi for “wilfully suppressing” complete facts in her plea alleging defamation and violation of her privacy during a show hosted by journalist Rajdeep Sardesai.

The court, however, said recording and publishing the part of the video, in which Ms. Ilmi was seen withdrawing herself from a live debate and moving out of the shooting frame, violated her “right to privacy”.

The controversy erupted when Ms Ilmi participated in a debate hosted by Mr Sardesai on the news channel in July 2024 premised on ‘Kargil Diwas’ and Agniveers scheme. Following a series of heated exchanges, Ms. Ilmi exited the show midway.

Ms. Ilmi stated that cameraman continued to unauthorisedly recorded video of her, while she was removing the mike; hobbling to get out of the chair. She stated that despite her request to the cameraman to stop recording, he did not.

Later, Mr. Sardesai put out a video and a post on X which Ms. Ilmi claimed were objectionable and a violation of her privacy.

The court remarked that Mr. Sardesai and the TV channel could not have recorded or used the portion of the video, which was objected to by Ms. Ilmi, “in absence of the express consent” from her.

However, Ms. Ilmi’s allegations relating to the video recording of her removing the microphone, allegedly outraging her modesty or violating her privacy appeared to be “misconceived” and an “afterthought”, the court held.