Delhi high court orders social media platforms to block posts linking Hardeep Puri’s daughter to Jeffrey Epstein

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed social media users to remove posts linking Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri's daughter Himayani Puri to convicted American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein within 24 hours Justice Mini Pushkarna said that if users fail to delete the posts, social media platforms must take them down or block access.

The court noted that Himayani Puri has a prima facie case and may suffer irreparable harm if interim relief is not granted. “Consequently, till the next date of hearing, the following directions are issued,” the court said, while listing the matter for further hearing in August. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the plaintiff, argued that she has a “global reputation” to protect as a finance professional and said the allegations were “completely false, reckless and malicious”.

Calling the claims a “figment of imagination”, he said there was an “orchestrated attack” driven by “personal and political malice”. He added that the content was shared by users who described themselves as journalists or content creators. Jethmalani also informed the court that Himayani Puri is based in New York and requested a global takedown of the material. Senior advocate Arvind Datar, representing Meta Platforms, said such global blocking orders are not issued and that content is usually restricted country-wise.

He added that the issue of global blocking is currently pending before a division bench of the high court. At this stage, the court limited its order to India and issued notices to the users and platforms, asking them to respond to the case and the plea for interim relief. It clarified that content uploaded outside India must be blocked for users within the country. A lawyer for one of the defendants argued that his video was part of “journalistic freedom” and should be protected.

The court said the issue required further consideration and asked all defendants to file their replies. In her lawsuit, Himayani Puri has sought Rs 10 crore in damages, along with an order to stop the spread of defamatory content and an unconditional apology from those involved. She alleged a “coordinated and malicious online campaign” to falsely link her to Epstein. "Commencing on or around 22.02.2026, a series of false, misleading and defamatory posts, articles, videos and digital material were published, disseminated and amplified across social media and intermediary platforms including inter alia X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, digital news portals and other web-based publications,” the plea said. She stated that she is an established finance and investment professional and claimed she was targeted only because she is the daughter of the Union minister for petroleum and natural gas. According to the plea, the defendants spread “baseless imputations” suggesting she had direct or indirect links with Epstein. “The allegations are entirely false, malicious and devoid of factual foundation,” it added. The Epstein files refer to a large collection of documents from two criminal investigations into sex trafficking involving Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. These include travel records, emails and recordings, and have remained under public discussion since Epstein’s death in custody in 2019.