Aaradhya Bachchan, the 13-year-old daughter of actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a summary judgment in her ongoing defamation lawsuit against various media platforms disseminating false information about her health. The legal action was initiated in 2023 in response to misleading content, including morphed images and videos falsely claiming that Aaradhya was critically ill or had passed away.
In April 2023, the Delhi High Court had directed YouTube to immediately remove such defamatory content. Despite this order, the objectionable material remained accessible online, prompting Aaradhya to seek further legal recourse.
During a recent hearing, Justice Mini Pushkarna issued notices to defendants, including Google and Bollywood Time, highlighting their failure to appear in court, which effectively nullifies their right to defend. The court has scheduled the next hearing for March 17, 2025.
This case underscores the broader issue of online misinformation, especially concerning minors, and the challenges in enforcing legal measures to protect individuals from defamatory content on digital platforms.