Delhi HC asks CJP leaders to delete post falsely linking remark to Gaurav Bhatia

The dispute arose after Saurav Das shared an AI-generated video on X that falsely attributed remarks about Swatantra Bhardwaj, the jailed Hindu far-right activist, to Bhatia. The post claimed that Bhatia had called Bhardwaj a "dimagi naxal".CJP leaders agree to remove post against BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia (Photo- ITG)The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka have agreed to take down their social media posts against BJP leader and senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia within 24 hours after the Delhi High Court asked them to delete the posts during the hearing of Bhatia’s defamation suit on Thursday.The dispute arose after Das shared an AI-generated video on X that falsely attributed remarks about Swatantra Bhardwaj, the jailed Hindu far-right activist, to Bhatia. The post claimed that Bhatia had called Bhardwaj a “dimagi naxal”.Bhatia denied making the remarks and later approached the Delhi High Court, seeking Rs 2 crore in damages from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), its founder Abhijeet Dipke, and co-convenors Das and Ranka.According to a report by the Bar and Bench, Bhatia also sought an injunction against the defendants over the controversial posts, which he alleged were defamatory. Das later clarified that the graphic was AI-generated, while Ranka had also amplified the disputed post. Bhatia sought their removal after denying that he had made the remarks attributed to him. In a post on X after Thursday’s hearing, Das said the court had asked the CJP leaders to take down the posts, including one featuring a “pantless Gaurav Bhatia”. He said that, keeping in mind the court’s direction and its advice to avoid getting stuck in court cases given the “amount of good work” the CJP leaders had to do, he and Ranka voluntarily undertook to delete the posts within 24 hours.Das also said that Bhatia had sought a dynamic injunction against them but that the High Court rejected the plea.“The Hon’ble Court advised Bhatia that instead of approaching the court, things could have been amicably settled but he refused the proposal,” Das said.He added that he and Ranka had “full faith and respect” for the court and would do everything in their capacity to save the court’s “precious time and scarce resource”.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Sep 10, 2026 18:22 IST