The Delhi High Court on Thursday recorded an undertaking by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka to take down social media posts concerning Senior Advocate Gaurav Bhatia within 24 hours, after the Court suggested that they voluntarily remove the posts. The matter was heard by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela in Bhatia’s 2 Crore defamation suit.

The dispute arises from an AI-generated graphic shared on X which allegedly attributed to Bhatia remarks describing right-wing influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj as a “dimagi naxali” and “jaatiwaadi.” Bhatia has denied making the remarks and filed a ?2 crore defamation suit seeking damages and injunctive relief. Saurav Das had subsequently deleted the post and clarified that the graphic was AI-generated, while Ranka was alleged to have amplified it.

During the hearing earlier today the Court suggested that Das and Ranka take down the posts voluntarily rather than the Court passing a mandatory takedown order. The Court had observed that while there could be different ways of protesting, “attacking like this without verifying is not correct.” It also told the defendants that they had a right to express themselves but that their expressions should sometimes be made more carefully so that the intended meaning was conveyed correctly.

Following the Court’s suggestion, Das and Ranka agreed to voluntarily delete the posts within 24 hours. Das had already removed one of the disputed posts, but the Court pointed out that another post was also in question.

The Court also issued summons to the CJP and its founder Abhijeet Dipke in the defamation suit.