NEW DELHI, July 27 — The Delhi High Court has directed X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, to remove social media links associated with the teaser of the film Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy, according to court records. The order came during proceedings in which the court found the content potentially prejudicial to actor Salman Khan’s personality rights and his ongoing legal matters. The film’s teaser reportedly alludes to Khan’s long-running blackbuck poaching case, a criminal matter that has followed the actor for years in Indian courts.
The producer’s counsel argued that the teaser does not name Khan directly. However, the court determined that the material still risked affecting his personality rights — a legal concept protecting an individual’s name, image, and public persona from unauthorised commercial or prejudicial use.
X has faced content moderation challenges in India before, including compliance with government takedown orders under the Information Technology Act of 2000. The court’s latest directive orders the removal of specific links associated with the film’s promotional material. Should X fail to comply, it faces contempt proceedings, the order indicates.
Regional legal landscape
In India, social media platforms operate under a legal framework that grants authorities broad powers to block content deemed unlawful. The IT Act of 2000, as amended, requires intermediaries to remove content upon receiving a government or court order. The Delhi High Court’s ruling reinforces this obligation, particularly when content touches on celebrity privacy and ongoing criminal proceedings.
The blackbuck poaching case itself has been a fixture in Indian legal news for years. Khan was convicted in 2018 by a trial court for poaching two blackbucks in 1998, though appeals have kept the matter alive.
The film’s teaser, by referencing this case without naming the actor, nonetheless triggered the court’s concern over prejudicing both his rights and the pending litigation, according to the order.
Platform obligations and precedent
The court did not accept the producer’s argument that the absence of Khan’s name absolved the content of legal risk. Instead, it focused on the teaser’s likely public association with the actor, given the notoriety of the case. X, as the platform hosting the links, was directed to act swiftly.
This is not the first time the company has been at odds with Indian judicial or executive directives. In previous years, X resisted certain government block orders, citing free expression concerns, before eventually complying with court rulings.
The Delhi High Court’s current order leaves no room for ambiguity: comply or face contempt.
Looking forward
The case highlights the growing intersection of celebrity personality rights and platform liability in India. As courts continue to assert authority over digital content, social media companies will need to navigate a legal environment where even indirect references to high-profile criminal cases can trigger takedown obligations. The outcome of any contempt proceedings against X, should it fail to comply, will be closely watched by legal observers and digital rights advocates alike.
Sources
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