Delhi HC Orders Meta to Remove Obscene Posts About Minor Girl by Fake Instagram Accounts

The Delhi High Court has recently directed Meta, the company that owns Instagram, to take down obscene material posted about a 15-year-old girl by fake accounts on the platform.

In doing so, a single-judge bench led by Justice Manoj Jain has restrained the defendants, whose identities are currently unknown, from uploading any further objectionable content, including actual or morphed images of the minor victim, or sharing the same until the next date of hearing.

These directions were passed in a case where defendants 2 to 6 had created fake Instagram accounts of the minor victim. These accounts had posted obscene and objectionable photos, some of which were morphed, while others were obtained through deceit and coercion to blackmail and threaten her.

The minor girl had then approached the high court through her mother/next friend, filed a suit before the High Court seeking a permanent and mandatory injunction as well as damages against the defendants.

According to the minor, the situation began after she innocently accepted a friend request, which eventually led to the creation of fake accounts using her details. It has been further stated that these accounts are anonymously maintained.

While considering the matter, the HC ordered, "Keeping in mind the overall facts and averments made in the plaint and the aforesaid application seeking injunction, it is clear that the plaintiff has been able to make out a prima facie in her favour and irreparable harm and injury would be caused to her if no injunction order is passed. The balance of convenience is also in her favour. Accordingly, defendant nos. 2 to 6 are restrained from uploading any further objectionable material."

Noting that the true identity and particulars of all defendants were not available to the plaintiff, the court directed Meta to provide the Basic Subscriber Information (BSI), including IP details, of Defendant Nos. 2 to 6, and also to take action on the URLs mentioned in Prayer-A of the injunction application.

The matter will next be heard on July 4, 2025.

Case Title: MINOR VICTIM THROUGH NEETU CHADHA versus META PLATFORMS INC & ORS

Read order here: