Delhi High Court hears Jantar Mantar, Kangana Ranaut and PepsiCo pleas

The Delhi High Court heard multiple pleas spanning Jantar Mantar protests, online abuse and commercial labelling. The matters now hinge on police and government replies, with key hearings lined up this week.

In Short

• Police got till October 13 to reply on Youth Congress protest plea
• Court sought status report on alleged detention of activist Wasiq Nadeem Khan
• Natasha Narwal's UK travel request for an academic conference awaits police stand

The Delhi High Court on Monday dealt with a range of matters, including pleas linked to protests at Jantar Mantar, an activist's request to travel abroad, online content targeting Member of Parliament and actor Kangana Ranaut, the use of the 'energy drink' label on products, and a dispute over the Delhi Gymkhana Club.

In its proceedings through the day, the court gave time to the Delhi Police to respond in some cases, sought reports and replies in others, and agreed to hear on Tuesday a petition over the alleged closure of Jantar Mantar as a protest site in the capital.

The court granted time till October 13 to the city police to respond to a plea by the Indian Youth Congress seeking permission to protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise.

In another matter concerning protests at Jantar Mantar, the court asked the city police to file a status report on civil rights activist Mohammad Wasiq Nadeem Khan's allegation that he was recently illegally detained to stop him from attending a peaceful protest there.

The high court also sought the Delhi Police's stand on a plea by activist Natasha Narwal, who is out on bail in cases arising from the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, seeking permission to travel to the United Kingdom to attend an academic conference.

The court agreed to hear on Tuesday a petition regarding the alleged closure of Jantar Mantar as a protest site in the city.

In a separate case, the high court ordered the takedown of AI-generated, fake and obscene content about Ranaut from online media.

The court also refused to immediately interfere with an order denying PepsiCo permission to continue manufacturing products with the 'energy drink' label.

It further sought the Centre's response to a plea by several members of Delhi Gymkhana Club challenging the government's decision to take over its 27.3-acre premises and the eviction proceedings that followed.

Overall, the Delhi High Court's proceedings on Monday covered protest-related pleas, an activist's travel request, online content, commercial labelling and a club property dispute, with further hearings and responses now awaited in several of the matters.

- Ends