A Delhi court has barred media houses and digital platforms from publishing or circulating content linking Manoj Kesari Chand Sandesara and his family to the Sterling Biotech Limited bank fraud case.
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Google, Meta directed to remove flagged content
Senior Civil Judge Richa Chadha ordered Google, Meta and unknown parties (John Doe) to de-index, de-list and remove flagged URLs within 36 hours. Sandesara moved the court, claiming that news reports and videos falsely labelled him and his family as fugitives and criminals, despite legal proceedings being resolved. The plea highlighted that the Supreme Court of India had accepted a settlement exceeding ₹5,100 crore and quashed criminal proceedings against the promoters in late 2025. Sandesara argued that continued online availability of such content violated his right to privacy and dignity, invoking the “right to be forgotten”.
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Court flags limits of media freedom
The court observed that freedom of the press is not absolute and must be exercised responsibly, noting that sensational or misleading reporting can cause lasting reputational damage.