Aaradhya Bachchan Moves Delhi High Court Against Misleading Online Content

Aaradhya Bachchan, daughter of Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking the removal of misleading online content about her. According to Bar and Bench, the court has issued a notice in response to her plea, moving towards a summary judgment to curb the spread of false information regarding the 13-year-old.

Legal notices have been served to major platforms, including Google and Bollywood Times, among others. The court has scheduled the next hearing for March 17.

This legal move follows a similar order issued by the Delhi High Court in April 2023, when the court directed Google to take down false videos that wrongly claimed Aaradhya was “critically ill” or had passed away. At that time, Justice C Hari Shankar had strongly condemned the circulation of such misleading content, emphasizing that "every child deserves dignity and respect." He further stated that "sharing false information about a minor’s health is completely unacceptable in law."

The court had also instructed Google to disclose the identities of those responsible for uploading the misleading videos and to promptly remove any future content of a similar nature. Additionally, the central government was directed to take action to block such material, while Google was reminded to adhere to relevant legal provisions.

In response to Aaradhya’s latest plea, the court has also issued summons to several YouTube channels, including Bollywood Time, Bolly Pakora, Bolly Samosa, and Bollywood Shine. The lawsuit alleges that "absolutely false" videos concerning Aaradhya’s health and personal life have been circulated, portraying the Bachchan family in a negative light. The petition highlights that the Bachchan name "epitomises the highest of virtues" and is "protectable as a trademark."

Furthermore, it argues that such "distasteful content" violates the minor’s right to privacy, with the sole intention of "creating shock value, gaining overnight popularity, and making a profit." Abhishek and Aishwarya have consistently maintained a private stance regarding their family matters and have discouraged unwarranted media attention towards their daughter.

The court’s intervention once again brings to light the growing concerns surrounding the exploitation of minors on digital platforms and the legal measures required to safeguard their privacy.