The Delhi HC on Tuesday came down hard on India Today journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, asking him to pull down the video featuring BJP leader Shazia Ilmi, accusing her of abusing an India Today video journalist.
‘You had no authority to record and no authority to use it,” Delhi HC said, asking him to pull down the video he uploaded on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Ilmi of “abusing” an India Today video journalist.
The court also ordered the banning of the video from all social media platforms.
Ilmi had filed a defamation suit against Rajdeep Sardesai after he had accused her of ‘attacking’ the cameraman of the India Today group.
Ilmi had left the primetime debate of the ‘propagandist masquerading as a journalist’ halfway after he asked to cut off the mic of the BJP spokesperson. Despite this, the cameraman kept filming without her consent, leading to a physical altercation.
In a tweet, Shazia Ilmi stated, “Don’t you ever bring down my Fader again. Remember I have been on both sides and know how to handle bullies like you. BTW it doesn’t behove political propagandists masquerading as journalists to sermonise.”
@sardesairajdeep @IndiaToday @aajtak
— Shazia Ilmi (@shaziailmi) July 26, 2024
Don’t you ever bring down my Fader again.
Remember I have been on both the sides and know how to handle bullies like you.
BTW it doesn’t behove political propagandists masquerading as journalists to sermonise.
And learn your facts…
Rajdeep Sardesai was quick to play the ‘victim card’ and accuse the BJP spokesperson of assaulting the cameraman. “I respect all my guests always. If anything, I am too indulgent: the fader is lowered only to avoid cross-talk and noise on the show. If you have a grouse with me or with an army general on the show, of course, that’s your prerogative. And I respect that too,” he claimed in a tweet.
“But for you to chuck the Mike and abuse our video journalist and throw him out of your house is just NOT done. He was only doing his job. No excuse for bad behaviour. The rest I leave to you. Have a good weekend (the video below is from last night…” he continued.
Sardesai had also shared a video of the physical altercation. Shazia Ilmi thanked the propagandist for providing video evidence and called out the ‘pervert’ cameraman for zooming on her chest.
“Why on earth would I stay on your show when you humiliate me and say CUT SHAZIA’s Mike off? Only because I asked you whether you think all the Defence Chiefs are lying. Don’t know about you but I have SELF RESPECT,” she tweeted.
The BJP spokesperson detailed the problematic behaviour of the cameraman, which forced her to evict him from her house.
“Your cameraman watched me struggle as I got up and continued to film me trying to remove my mike, instead of helping me with the wheelchair. Why was he continuing to focus on MY UPPER BODY showing it up close? It was so uncomfortable for me and I felt most embarrassed,” she pointed out.
@sardesairajdeep@IndiaToday
— Shazia Ilmi (@shaziailmi) July 27, 2024
Thanks for providing me with the EVIDENCE which clearly shows how your camera man behaved after the show
1. Why on earth would I stay on your show when you humiliate me and say CUT SHAZIA’s Mike off ? Only because I asked you whether you think all…
- “Any lady would tell you that focusing on their chest is a clear NO NO. I could see this live on screen and requested him not to film me any or switch off the camera light. The pervert cameraman continued to film me despite my obvious physical and emotional discomfort after the show was over. Why? Why would he keep filming him in my home, my SAFE place against my WILL? And that too, AFTER the show?” Shazia Ilmi asked.
“Just because you’re a famous anchor (just as much you’re a sore loser) doesn’t mean you can humiliate people who call you out and force your crews on people, beyond the brief and violate their private space. And I dare India Today to show footage of my upper body and chest again. I will take this matter up seriously as I was deeply hurt and humiliated by this behaviour,” she warned.
