On Friday, the Bombay High Court had slammed Shilpa Shetty Kundra’s demand for restraining media organizations and social media platforms from publishing information related to her and her husband, Raj Kundra who was recently arrested for connection in producing and providing porn videos.
Raj Kundra is indulged in a history of controversy, he is known as a shady businessman, indulging in Money Laundering cases, Links with Underworld, Pornography industry mastermind, IPL Spot fixing case, Bitcoins Controversy etc.
Shilpa Shetty had left no bound defending her husband. On Thursday, she moved to the high court accusing the media and social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube of publishing defamatory content against her on their platforms which are causing irreparable damage to her reputation. Objections were made regarding news reports about her breaking down when Mumbai Police officials took Raj Kundra to their residence for searches last week.
To which the court replied, “You (Shetty) chose a public life. Your life is under a microscope. Firstly, articles saying she cried and fought with her husband when her statement was recorded, are not defamatory. It shows that she is a human,” Justice Patel said, “Your prayer seeking for social media platforms like Google, YouTube and Facebook to exercise control over editorial content is dangerous.”
Justice Gautam Patel further explained why Shilpa Shetty’s plea is not acceptable as it will “have a chilling effect on the freedom of press” and “Reportage of something based on what police have said is not defamatory.”
On behalf of Shetty, Advocate Birendra Saraf took objection to an article published on a website, ‘Peeping Moon’, in which it was claimed that Shetty “destroyed evidence” in the case in which her husband has been arrested. Justice Patel, however, stated that he was not inclined to direct for this particular article to be taken down as the material in it was prima facie drawn from an understanding of what the police had said or indicated.
Advocate Biren Saraf further objected to the reports and argued that it was “something that happened between a husband and wife, and should not have been reported”. However, Justice Patel said the act (Shilpa Shetty breaking down) took place in front of outsiders (cops) and it was reported from “crime branch sources”.
Justice Patel said that in his order none of the reportage on Shilpa Shetty should be related to the parenting of her children. “That part is protected by her right of privacy under the wide protection recognized by the freedom of the press to be balanced with the right of privacy.”
Kundra has always been in the news for all wrong things. He has been in the spotlight for living a very controversial life; he is accused of a multitude of crimes. Speculations are bound to happen, and they are bound to face it, questions will be asked and Shilpa Shetty is accountable to face them on behalf of her husband. The High Court directed all defendants in the suit to file their affidavits and posted the matter for further hearing on September 20. The HC decision is indeed a tight slap to the Bollywood clan who think they are entitled to special treatment and can silence the media.