Court directs enquiry into defamatory videos violating victim's dignity and family's privacy rights under Art.21 during criminal probe.

O R D E R

This Writ Petition has been filed for a Mandamus directing the

1^st respondent to remove the videos mentioned in paragraph No.3 of the affidavit uploaded by the respondent Nos.6 and 7 in their respective Youtube Channels by considering the petitioner's representation dated 22.09.2025 within a stipulated time frame.

2. The case of the petitioner is that he is the father of the deceased and the defacto complainant in Crime No.189 of 2025 registered for the offences under Sections 85 and 108 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pending on the file of Cheyyur Police Station, Tiruppur, relating to dowry death of his daughter. During pendency of investigation, the respondents 6 and 7, who are Youtube content Creators / media channels have uploaded multiple videos on their respective Youtube Channels, containing false allegations, speculative narratives, character assassination and unverified claims, directly naming and identifying the deceased and her family. According to the petitioner, the impugned videos are prima facie defamatory, malicious and misleading, intended to create false public perception in favour of the accused persons in the criminal case, while blaming and maligning the victim, thereby violating her posthumous right to dignity, the petitioner’s right to privacy and reputation guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. In this regard, the petitioner has given a representation dated 22.09.2025 to the respondents 1 to 4 to remove the videos posted by the respondents 6 and 7 on their respective Youtube Channels and since the representation of the petitioner was not considered by the respondents 1 to 4 till date, the petitioner has come up with the present writ petition.

3. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, learned counsel appearing for the second respondent and the learned Government Advocate (Crl.side) appearing for the respondent Nos.3 and 4 and perused the materials on record. Since no adverse order is going to be passed against the respondent Nos.1 and 5 to 7, notice to the respondent Nos.1 and 5 to 7 is dispensed with.

4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, without expressing anything on merits, this Court directs the 4^th respondent to conduct enquiry between the petitioner and the respondents 6 and 7 by considering the representation of the petitioner dated 22.09.2025 and pass appropriate orders on merits and in accordance with law within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

5. Accordingly, this Writ Petition stands disposed of with the above direction. No costs.