New Delhi, May 22 -- There is a thin line between political criticism and defamation, the Delhi High Court said on Thursday while observing that posts criticising Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha's decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could not, prima facie, be treated as a violation of his personality rights. Chadha, a former member of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) joined the BJP in April 2026, filed a lawsuit in the high court against the publication of alleged malicious and fabricated social media posts that, he said, are gravely prejudicial to his reputation and personality rights. Senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, appearing for Chadha, contended there were posts with profane content, including where the politician is shown as having "sold himself away for money". Reserving verdict on the aspect of interim relief to take down such alleged offending content, Justice Subramonium Prasad acknowledged that while an individual has the right to live with dignity, the right to free speech under the Constitution also cannot be taken away. "It is a comment by an individual criticizing a political decision... As a political leader, can you be sensitive," asked Justice Prasad during the hearing. Justice Prasad responded that prima facie they only appeared to be criticism. "Prima facie there is no personality right which is involved in this. A decision taken by you in your political arena is being criticised...As a politcal leader, can you be sensitive?" justice Prasad said. He added, "The line between defamation and criticism is quite thin, and it's very easy to slip to the other side, which affects your right to live with dignity. it might not be a case for an interim injunction to be handed down, unlike the other matters." Chadha has been nominated as the chairman of the Committee on Petitions of the Rajya Sabha, a Parliament notification said....