The Delhi High Court has reprimanded actress Richa Chadha and several media outlets for publicly “shaming” a man over unverified sexual harassment allegations on a Delhi-Mumbai IndiGo flight. The court highlighted the responsibility of public figures and the media to verify facts before sharing sensitive claims.
The incident happened on March 11, when a female journalist accused a man sitting next to her of inappropriate physical conduct. After landing, she posted the allegation on her X account, including his photo and professional details. The post quickly went viral, and multiple media outlets reported it. Richa Chadha amplified the claim further by sharing the post with the caption “Make him famous.”
Court Slams Richa Chadha And Media Over ‘Shaming Without Proof’
The court was hearing a defamation suit filed by the accused man against the journalist, X Corp, OBNews, Google, Meta Platforms, NDTV Hindi, ABP Live, Richa Chadha and IndiGo Airlines. The man has consistently denied the allegations, stating he stayed seated and had fallen asleep before landing.
Regarding the post shared by Heeramandi actress, the court said, “The endorsement and amplification of an unverified allegation, accompanied by the instigatory text ‘Make him famous’, transcends mere free expression and acts as a catalyst for public shaming and digital vigilantism. A public figure bears a legal and moral responsibility to verify the veracity of facts before leveraging her platform to amplify grave accusations.”
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The court noted that Chadha has removed the post and warned her not to escalate the issue in the future.
Actress Faces Social Media Backlash
Social media users reacted strongly to the court’s warning and Chadha’s post. Many called for stricter consequences, while others criticised the casual use of social media to target men.
One user said, “She thought defaming men has no consequences. Unfortunately court didn’t fine her. She should be fined heavily and ordered to issue a public apology to the man.”
Another wrote, “@RichaChadha good, that you took down that unverified tweet, be cautious next time. Your industry has not taught you well. Accusing men of false allegations is common and looks cool for #women.”
A third user commented, “Indian women suffering with hatred. Feminism 101.”
The court also reprimanded the journalist who first shared the man’s identity. It stated that revealing personal details and photographs before a proper investigation violates the man’s fundamental right to dignity and a fair trial.
