Bharatiya Janata Party leader Gaurav Bhatia has moved the Delhi High Court seeking that allegedly defamatory social media posts about his appearance on a television news show earlier this month should be removed, Bar and Bench reported.

Bhatia had appeared on a News18 programme hosted by journalist Amish Devgan, during which a camera shot showed him wearing a kurta without pyjamas or pants. The video clip was circulated widely on social media.

Justice Amit Bansal, who heard the matter, said the court would examine the material and pass orders on Thursday.

The judge clarified that while he will pass orders against defamatory posts making references to Bhatia’s private parts, satirical or sarcastic content would not be restricted.

Advocate Raghav Awasthi, appearing for Bhatia, said that the BJP leader had been wearing shorts and that the cameraperson had mistakenly shown the lower half of his body, Bar and Bench reported.

He argued that the posts violated Bhatia’s privacy and urged the court to order their removal.

Bhatia, who also appeared in person, submitted before court that persons on social media cannot be allowed to use derogatory words concerning his appearance on TV.

Awasthi’s counsel added that the image had been “taken in the privacy” of Bhatia’s home and should not have been circulated without his consent, PTI reported.

The judge, however, verbally remarked that individuals in politics need to be thick-skinned. “We’ll have to cull out what’s satirical and what’s defamatory,” Bansal said, according to PTI. “So for now we need to distinguish between offensive and satirical comments.”

Bhatia’s defamation suit has sought the removal of posts by the Samajwadi Party’s media cell, news outlet Newslaundry, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, Congress leader Ragini Nayak and journalists including Abhisar Sharma, Bar and Bench reported.

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