Bengaluru court restrains spread of 'honey trap' videos

A Bengaluru civil court has issued an interim order restraining 42 defendants from distributing two videos that link former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to an alleged honey trap. The order affects news outlets, a YouTube channel named "Karnataka Honey Trap," and companies behind platforms like WhatsApp, YouTube, and Facebook.

The order, dated October 13, 2026, restricts these entities from publishing the content before they have a chance to present their case. India's Supreme Court has previously held that trial courts must clearly articulate how specific legal tests for injunctions are met, rather than simply stating a "prima facie" case and potential irreparable harm. While the Bengaluru order mentions these factors, its wording raises questions about whether it meets the higher standard set by the Supreme Court, particularly regarding the "balance of convenience."

The case centers on two videos allegedly showing a woman making serious accusations from around 2011. Siddaramaiah argues the videos are false and their circulation would cause irreparable damage to his dignity and reputation. One video, a roughly hour-long program on Freedom TV Kannada, had amassed approximately 324,000 views by October 4, 2026, according to court filings.

The injunction prohibits the telecasting, re-telecasting, publishing, and circulation of the videos in any format, including clips, extracts, or screenshots. It also directs platforms to disable access to and block the content. The restraint is in place "till next date," and its final enforcement depends on Siddaramaiah serving the necessary legal documents to all defendants within the stipulated timeframe.

MediaNama has reached out to the involved parties for further clarification on the order's interpretation and enforcement, including how social media platforms will identify "substantially identical" versions of the videos and whether the order adheres to India's Supreme Court standards on freedom of speech.