Siddhant Kochar v. Union Of India & ORS.

$~103 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(CRL) 4268/2025 & CRL.M.A. 38409-10/2025 SIDDHANT KOCHAR .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Sarthak Maggon, Adv.

versus UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr. Sanjeev Bhandari, ASC for State with Mr. Arjit Sharma and Ms. Sakshi Jha, Advs. with SI Naresh Kumar, PS.

Cyber East.

Ms. Nidhi Raman, CGSC with Mr.

Arnav Mittal, GP with Mr. Akash Mishra, Mr. Arnav Mittal and Mr.

Om Ram, Advs. for R-1/UOI.

Ms.

Amee Rana, Mr.

Akhil Shandilya, Ms. Radhika Roy and Ms.

Varsha Jhavar, Advs. for R-3.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS MAHAJAN

O R D E R

% 22.12.2025 CRL.M.A. 38411/2025 (exemption) 1.

Allowed, subject to all just exceptions.

2.

Application stands disposed of.

W.P.(CRL) 4268/2025 3.

The present petition has been filed seeking following relief: A. That this Hon'ble Court issue an appropriate writ directing Respondent No. 1 to frame and lay down guidelines in exercise of its powers under Section 79(2)(c) read with Section 87(2)(zg) of the Information Technology Act to ensure that censorship or disabling The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

of social media accounts is carried out only in accordance with Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution, and that complaints of cyber bullying, harassment, identity theft, and malicious reporting are effectively investigated and forwarded to competent police stations.

B. That this Hon'ble Court issue an appropriate writ directing Respondent No. 2 to investigate and take appropriate action through due process against individuals responsible for unlawful reporting, cyber harassment, and malicious takedown requests, and to register FIRs where necessary.

C. That this Hon'ble Court issue an appropriate writ directing Respondent No. 3 to immediately restore the Petitioner's Instagram and Facebook accounts and not suspend or disable the same in future without following the principles of natural justice, including prior notice, disclosure of alleged violations, and opportunity of response.

4.

At the oustet, Mr. Sarthak Maggon, learned counsel for the petitioner fairly states that he is not pressing for prayer clause (a) in the present petition.

5.

Essentially, the grievance of the petitioner in the present petition is with regard to suspension of petitioner's Instagram and Facebook account on different dates, and non-investigation of the same by respondent no.3. 6.

Mr. Sanjeev Bhandari, learned ASC for the State/respondent no.2, on instructions, submits that the petitioner is stated to have made a complaint before the Grievance Officer of respondent no.3. 7.

Ms. Amee Rana, learned counsel for respondent no.3 submits that in case the petitioner will share the registration number of his complaint along with Facebook URL, the grievance of the petitioner will be looked into. The statement of respondent no.3 is taken on record and it shall remain bound by the same.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

8.

Mr. Maggon submits that he will do the needful. 9.

In view of the above statement, no further orders are pressed by Mr. Maggon at this stage.

10.

The petition stands disposed of.

VIKAS MAHAJAN, J DECEMBER 22, 2025/dss The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.