MIB asks platforms to remove content on alleged London Badminton trip by judges, ministers

In a significant move aimed at curbing online misinformation targeting the judiciary and senior government officials, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has directed social media platforms, search engines, digital publishers and internet intermediaries to remove a series of articles, videos and social media posts that allegedly spread false claims about the participation of India's Chief Justice, Supreme Court judges and Union ministers in an international badminton tournament held in London.

The notification, issued on June 22 by the Ministry under provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, follows an urgent order passed by the Delhi High Court on June 19 in a petition filed by the Badminton Association of India (BAI).

The court described the disputed content as "ex-facie false, malicious and derogatory" and directed authorities to ensure its removal within 24 hours.

Court Sees ‘Systematic Misinformation Campaign’

The case arose from reports, videos and social media posts suggesting that the Chief Justice of India, several sitting judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, along with Union ministers, had travelled to London to participate in the 2nd International Bar & Bench Badminton Championship on June 7.

According to the Badminton Association of India, several digital platforms and social media accounts circulated misleading claims alleging inappropriate interactions between members of the judiciary and the executive during the event. The association argued that the content was factually incorrect, politically motivated and intended to undermine public confidence in constitutional institutions.

Justice Tejas Karia of the Delhi High Court observed that material placed before the court indicated a "systematic misinformation campaign" targeting the judiciary. The court noted that the allegations were based largely on photographs that had been misrepresented and taken out of context.

The judgment stated that the circulation of such content had the potential to cause "serious and irreversible injury" to public confidence in the justice delivery system.

During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that photographs being circulated online showing the Chief Justice of India, Justice Vikram Nath, and Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Kiren Rijiju playing badminton were not taken in London.

According to submissions made before the court, the images originated from a national-level Bar and Bench Badminton tournament organised at Delhi's Thyagaraj Stadium on November 29, 2025.

The government further clarified that the Chief Justice of India had not participated in any badminton tournament in London. Instead, he had been in the United Kingdom on an official visit where he attended engagements related to the UK Supreme Court, arbitration law and artificial intelligence.

The government also stated that neither Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal nor Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had travelled to London during the period in question.

The court recorded that only two judges from the Allahabad High Court had visited London in their personal capacity and that the viral narrative involving dozens of judges and Union ministers was unsupported by facts.

The Delhi High Court relied on clarifications issued by both the Press Information Bureau's Fact Check Unit and the Ministry of Law and Justice.

The PIB Fact Check Unit had earlier stated that viral social media claims suggesting ministers and judges attended a London badminton event together were entirely false. It clarified that the photographs being circulated were from a badminton event held in New Delhi in November 2025.

Separately, the Law Ministry had described reports claiming that over 75 judges and the Minister of State for Law and Justice attended the London tournament as "false and misleading."

The court held that these official clarifications reinforced the government's position that the allegations lacked factual basis.

Acting on the court's directions, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has instructed all intermediaries—including social media companies, significant social media intermediaries, search engines, web-hosting services, digital media platforms and internet service providers—to remove, block, disable, de-index and restrict access to the identified content.

The order extends not only to the original material but also to any mirrored, edited, reproduced, clipped, derivative or substantially similar versions appearing elsewhere online.

The ministry's annexure specifically lists URLs across YouTube, digital news websites and social media platform X that have been identified for action.

Beyond content removal, the High Court has directed intermediaries to preserve and furnish subscriber information linked to those responsible for uploading and disseminating the content.

Platforms have been instructed to provide details including names, addresses, contact information, email IDs, bank account details, IP logs and related records within one week.

The information is to be submitted in password-protected or sealed formats to facilitate potential legal proceedings against individuals or entities found responsible for circulating the disputed material.

The case highlights increasing judicial scrutiny of misinformation campaigns targeting constitutional institutions and demonstrates the government's willingness to invoke intermediary liability provisions under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act.

Legal experts note that the ruling reinforces the principle that platforms may lose statutory safe-harbour protections if they fail to act after receiving court-backed government notifications regarding unlawful content.

The order also underscores the growing role of fact-checking mechanisms and government agencies in responding to misinformation involving the judiciary and public institutions.

The ministry's notification goes beyond technology platforms and explicitly addresses publishers, bloggers, news portals, account holders and ordinary social media users.

All such persons have been directed to remove the disputed content and refrain from republishing, sharing, reposting or otherwise disseminating it in any form.

The High Court has additionally restrained members of the public from circulating the content while directing the government to submit a compliance report within three weeks.

The matter is scheduled to be reviewed by the Delhi High Court on July 17, when authorities are expected to present an update on compliance with the takedown and information-preservation directives.