Renowned contemporary artist Subodh Gupta has filed a defamation suit against Instagram handle @herdsceneand for allegedly publishing malicious content against him. Gupta has sought token damages worth Rs 5 crore, according to reports.
The Delhi High Court directed Google to take down a list of URLs from its search results which report on the sexual harassment allegations against Gupta within the next 48 hours. Instagram was also directed to provide details of the "person/entity" running the account to the court in a "sealed cover". The case was filed in the Delhi HC on September 18, following which notices were issued to Instagram on restraining the Instagram handle from posting anything against Gupta until September 30.
Sexual harassment allegations were raised against Gupta in December last year, which Gupta instantly denied. "I deny the anonymous allegations made on the Instagram account @herdsceneand in their entirety; I have never behaved in an inappropriate manner with any individual who worked with me and several of my former assistants can attest to this. These allegations are entirely false and fabricated," Gupta had said in his statement.
Following the allegations, he had stepped down as guest curator of the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa. His works were pulled out of India Art Fair, and he also skipped the Jaipur Literature Festival, where he was scheduled to speak.