Verma vs Bhardwaj: Court orders Meta, X to preserve social media posts

Delhi's Rouse Avenue court directed Meta and X to preserve social media posts and data linked to a defamation complaint by Parvesh Verma against AAP's Saurabh Bhardwaj. The court also restrained Verma from deleting the posts in question.

The Rouse Avenue court on Tuesday directed social media platforms Meta and X to preserve the post, media files, metadata and other details of the post linked to the defamation complaint filed by Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma. The order has been passed on an application moved by the proposed accused AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj.

Verma has filed a defamation complaint against Bhardwaj on the basis of social media posts in connection with the S S Mota Singh school.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Mittal passed the interim order after hearing submissions on the application. An application was filed on behalf of Saurabh Bhardwaj seeking direction for preservation of digital evidence on social media platforms.

Court Issues Preservation and Restraining Order

The court directed Meta Platform Inc. and X Corp. to preserve the posts, media files, metadata, server logs, registration records and IP history in relation to the posts detailed in Table A and Table B of the application, till the next date of hearing. The court has also restrained the complainant and his associates from deleting the posts.

"Accordingly, the complainant and his associates and co-administrators are restrained from deleting, de-activating, hiding, restricting access to, editing or otherwise altering any part of the posts, profiles, photographs and reels listed in Tables of the application, till the next date of hearing," the court ordered on September 1.

ACJM Mittal also ordered, "Further, Meta Platform Inc. and X Corp. are directed to preserve the posts, media files, metadata, server logs, registration records and IP history in relation to the posts detailed out in Table A and Table B of the application, till the next date of hearing.

The court has also directed that the order, along with copies of Table A and Table B, be served upon Meta Platform Inc. and X Corp. through their email addresses mentioned in the application.

Arguments and Next Steps

The court has listed the matter for reply/arguments on the application and rebuttal arguments on the point of cognisance on September 9, 2026, at 11:30 AM.

The court had issued notice to Saurabh Bhardwaj to file his response on the point of cognisance of the Complaint filed by Parvesh Verma.

The court on Tuesday heard the arguements advanced by Advocate Rajat Bhardwaj on behalf of Saurabh Bhardwaj. The counsel for Parvesh Verma sought time for rebuttal arguments and to file a reply to the application.

During the hearing, Advocate Rajat Bhardwaj moved an application for urgent preservation of digital evidence. He submitted that the application filed by him will become infructuous in case the digital evidence sought to be preserved is deleted from the social media platforms before the disposal of the present application.

He prayed that an interim order restraining the complainant and his associate and co-administrator from deleting, hiding, editing, altering any part of the post, photographs listed in the application be passed. This application was opposed by the advocate Praveen Kumar, counsel for Parvesh Verma. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)