Laxmi Devi And Ors. vs Union Of India & Ors.

$~65
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
% Date of Decision: 23.04.2026
+ W.P.(CRL) 1307/2026 & CRL.M.A. 12613/2026

LAXMI DEVI AND ORS. .....Petitioners
Through: Mr. Pramod Kumar Dubey, Senior
Advocate with Mr. Anirudh Gupta,
Mr. Ashish Gupta, Mr. Satyam
Sharma and Mr. Ram Chand,
Advocates
versus

UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .....Respondents
Through: Mr. Sanjeev Bhandari, ASC with Mr.
Arjit Sharma and Ms. Sakshi Jha,
Advocates for the State with Addl.
DCP Ms. Niharika Bhatt, Dwarka
District



CORAM: JUSTICE GIRISH KATHPALIA

J U D G M E N T (ORAL)



1. The petitioners have filed this petition seeking following reliefs:

a) to ensure the safety and security to the family of petitioners by
providing adequate police protection as there is grave threat to
lives and liberty of the petitioners;

b) Direct the Respondents to take all necessary steps to ensure that no

W.P.(CRL) 1307/2026 Page 1 of 4 pages
Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec
45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca,
ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638,
postalCode=110003, st=Delhi,
serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15
570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801
e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA
Date: 2026.04.22 17:27:30 -07'00'
Digitally Signed
By:RAHUL YADAV
Signing Date:23.04.2026
17:31:23
GIRISH
KATHPALIA
Signature Not Verified

threat, coercion, or harm of any nature is extended to the
Petitioners and the witnesses connected with FIR No. 0122/2026,
registered at Police Station Uttam Nagar;

c) Direct the Respondents to take immediate and effective action for
the identification, removal, and deletion of all threatening,
inflammatory, and communally provocative videos pertaining to
the incident from all social media platforms, including but not
limited to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter)
to ensure that no untoward incident takes place due to the wide
circulation of such videos; and

d) Issue appropriate directions to the Respondents to take all
preventive and precautionary measures, to ensure that no
untoward incident takes place against the Petitioners and the
witnesses;

e) Pass such other and further order( s) as this Hon'ble Court may
deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present
case, in the interest of justice.

2. Learned ASC for the State appearing on advance intimation accepts
notice. Learned ASC is accompanied with Ms. Niharika Bhatt, the
Additional DCP, Dwarka, Delhi. Learned ASC points out that earlier, an
issue pertaining to the unfortunate incident on the basis whereof this petition
has been brought, was taken before a Division Bench of this Court by way
of W.P.(Crl.) 896/2026 and the same was disposed of by the Division Bench
taking note of the previous orders passed therein. The learned Division
Bench recorded appreciation for the Delhi Police for the manner in which
directions in the said writ petition were implemented.
3. The present petition has been filed, alleging that on 13.04.2026, few
unknown women with faces covered threatened the petitioner no. 1 and one

W.P.(CRL) 1307/2026 Page 2 of 4 pages
Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec
45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca,
ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638,
postalCode=110003, st=Delhi,
serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d15
570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e
26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA
Date: 2026.04.22 17:27:18 -07'00'
Digitally Signed
By:RAHUL YADAV
Signing Date:23.04.2026
17:31:23
GIRISH
KATHPALIA
Signature Not Verified

of them was identified by petitioner no. 1 as Ms. ‘S’ ( name withheld in this
order ). It is further alleged that on 09.04.2026, husband of Ms. ‘S’ had
broken the lock of the gate of a house and he took away the belongings.
4. In the above backdrop, learned ASC submits that the local police is
already active and shall ensure best possible protection to the petitioners.
The Additional DCP explains that in the lane of residence of the petitioners
as well as in the surrounding blocks, CCTV cameras have been installed and
police pickets have been created to ensure communal harmony. As regards
the petitioners, it is submitted by Additional DCP that there is a police
picket just in front of their house.
5. Additionally, the Additional DCP is requested to direct the concerned
SHO to provide his personal mobile phone number to the petitioners so that
they may contact him at the time of distress.
6. As regards prayer ‘c’ of the petition, the Additional DCP informs that
they have already pulled down more than 250 inflammatory videos and
contents from social media platforms. Petitioners are directed to furnish
specific particulars of such videos or content, if any to the local SHO, who
shall forthwith take appropriate action in accordance with law.
7. As regards the complaint dated 13.04.2026, learned ASC submits on
instructions that the local police has already collected relevant material
including video footage, which is being examined for appropriate action.
The same is being inquired into by an officer of ACP rank.

W.P.(CRL) 1307/2026 Page 3 of 4 pages
Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4afec45
569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626cacca,
ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID - 7047638,
postalCode=110003, st=Delhi,
serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5d155
70996b40f80cbd2eee60402c487965ff801e26
fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA
Date: 2026.04.22 17:27:08 -07'00'
Digitally Signed
By:RAHUL YADAV
Signing Date:23.04.2026
17:31:23
GIRISH
KATHPALIA
Signature Not Verified

8. In view of above directions, learned Senior Counsel for petitioners, on
instructions, submits that they are satisfied so far as this petition is
concerned and the petition be accordingly disposed of.
9. Accordingly, the petition stands disposed of.

Digitally signed by GIRISH KATHPALIA
DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,
2.5.4.20=8401dd889b27a77b2f65ffffe4
afec45569af3962c6fb4835d435f97626c
acca, ou=HIGH COURT OF DELHI,CID -
7047638, postalCode=110003, st=Delhi,
serialNumber=d3e86796451ec45c07b5
d15570996b40f80cbd2eee60402c4879
65ff801e26fa, cn=GIRISH KATHPALIA
Date: 2026.04.22 17:26:56 -07'00'
GIRISH
KATHPALIA



GIRISH KATHPALIA
(JUDGE)
APRIL 23, 2026
‘ rs’

W.P.(CRL) 1307/2026 Page 4 of 4 pages
Signature Not Verified
Digitally Signed
By:RAHUL YADAV
Signing Date:23.04.2026
17:31:23