Delhi Court Summons YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in Defamation Case Filed by BJP Leader

Delhi Court Summons YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in Defamation Case Filed by BJP Leader

Introduction

A significant legal development has emerged from Delhi, where a court has issued summons to the prominent YouTuber Dhruv Rathee. This summons is in response to a civil defamation case filed by Suresh Nakhua, the spokesperson for the Mumbai unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The case revolves around allegations made by Rathee in one of his YouTube videos.

The Allegations

Suresh Nakhua filed the defamation suit against Dhruv Rathee, along with Google LLC and X Corp (formerly Twitter). The dispute arose from a video uploaded by Rathee on July 7, titled "My Reply to Godi Youtubers | Elvish Yadav | Dhruv Rathee." In this video, Rathee allegedly referred to Nakhua as part of a group of “violent and abusive trolls” without any substantial evidence. Nakhua contends that these accusations were made with the intent to tarnish his reputation.

Court Proceedings

District Judge Gunjan Gupta, in an order passed on July 19, 2024, issued the summons and notice of the application under Order 39 Rule 1 and 2 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC) to the defendants. The court has set the next hearing date for August 6, 2024. The order mandates the defendants to respond to the suit by various means, including electronic mode.

Plaintiff's Claims

In his suit, Nakhua asserted that the video by Rathee was a deliberate attempt to defame him and cause irreparable harm to his personal and professional life. He claimed that the video falsely accused him of being involved in violent and abusive activities, damaging his reputation severely. Nakhua also accused Rathee of habitual defamation and using his substantial online following to threaten and discredit others.

Damages Sought

Nakhua is seeking a permanent injunction to restrain Rathee from posting, tweeting, publishing, creating, or sharing any derogatory material about him or the BJP on any platform. Additionally, he has requested a decree of damages amounting to ₹20,00,000 for the defamation caused.

The Impact of the Video

The contentious video has garnered significant attention, amassing over 24 million views and more than 2.3 million likes. Nakhua emphasized that the widespread viewership of the video exacerbated the harm to his reputation, leading to widespread condemnation and ridicule.

Conclusion

This defamation case against Dhruv Rathee highlights the ongoing tensions between social media influencers and political figures. As the case progresses, it will be crucial to observe how the court balances freedom of speech with the protection of individual reputations. The upcoming hearing on August 6 will provide further insights into the legal arguments and the potential consequences for Rathee and the involved social media platforms.

Reference

• Dhruv Rathee Summoned by Delhi Court in Defamation Case Filed by BJP Spokesperson - The Hindu
• Delhi Court Issues Summon to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on Mumbai BJP Leader's Defamation Suit - Economic Times
• Delhi Court Summons YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in Rs 20 Lakh Defamation Case Filed by BJP Leader - India Today
• Delhi Court Summons YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in Defamation Case Filed by BJP Leader - Hindustan Times

Check out the above links for more details