Delhi High Court Issues Notice on Aaradhya Bachchan’s Suit Over Misleading Online Information

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice on an application for summary judgment filed by Aaradhya Bachchan, the granddaughter of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan. This suit, filed in 2023, addresses the circulation of misleading information about Aaradhya on the internet, particularly through videos and morphed images claiming she was seriously ill or deceased.Justice Mini Pushkarna heard the arguments of Aaradhya Bachchan’s counsel, Advocate Pravin Gandhi, who requested the summary judgment under the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC), pointing out that the defendants—including Google, Bollywood Time, and other unnamed websites—had failed to appear in court, thus forfeiting their right to defend.

The application for summary judgment seeks a swift resolution without the need for oral evidence. The next hearing is scheduled for March 17, 2025.The suit was initially filed by Aaradhya, through her father Abhishek Bachchan, in 2023 to prevent various YouTube channels and John Doe defendants from spreading false rumors about her health. These included videos falsely claiming she was hospitalized, severely unwell, or even deceased.In response, the Court had previously granted an interim injunction, barring the defendants from publishing any content related to Aaradhya's health. The court emphasized that dissemination of misleading information about a child's well-being is unlawful, regardless of their familial background, and cannot be tolerated.

Justice C Hari Shankar had earlier remarked that every child, whether a celebrity’s child or not, is entitled to respect and protection from such harmful content.This legal matter remains ongoing as the suit awaits a final resolution.