Dhruv Rathee in Trouble! Delhi Court Summons YouTuber in Rs 20 Lakh Defamation Suit: What's the Controversy?
New Delhi: A Delhi Court has issued summons to popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in response to a defamation suit filed by BJP Mumbai spokesperson Suresh Karamshi Nakhua. The suit, seeking Rs 20 lakhs in damages, claims that Rathee defamed Nakhua by labeling him as part of a group of "violent and abusive trolls" in a YouTube video.
Suresh Nakhua alleges that Rathee's video titled "My Reply to Godi Youtubers | Elvish Yadav" made defamatory statements about him. In the video, Rathee reportedly claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hosted "violent and abusive trolls like Ankit Jain, Suresh Nakhua, and Tajinder Bagga" at his official residence. Nakhua argues that these allegations have severely damaged his reputation.
Court Proceedings
District Judge Gunjan Gupta of Saket Courts issued the summons to Rathee, as well as to Google LLC and X Corp, the platforms hosting the allegedly defamatory content. The court's order states:
“Issue summons of the suit and notice of the application u/o 39 Rule 1 and 2 CPC to the defendants, subject to steps by all modes i.e. PF & RC/Speed Post/ Approved Courier including electronic mode for 06.08.2024.”
Impact of the Video
The video in question has garnered over 24 million views and more than 2.3 million likes, with its reach continuing to expand. Nakhua's suit claims that these widespread views have led to significant harm to his personal and professional life due to the defamatory statements.
Further Allegations
The suit also accuses Rathee of engaging in habitual defamation and using his large online following to threaten and harm the careers of fellow YouTubers. Rathee's YouTube channel boasts over 23.3 million subscribers, and he has over 2.6 million followers on X platform (formerly Twitter).
Legal Representation
Advocates Raghav Awasthi and Mukesh Sharma are representing Suresh Nakhua in this defamation case. The suit seeks to restrain Rathee from tweeting, posting, or creating any further content regarding Nakhua on YouTube or X Corp.
Moving Forward
As the court proceedings advance, all eyes will be on the developments of this high-profile defamation case. The case underscores the increasing scrutiny of online content and the potential legal ramifications of statements made on social media platforms. The next hearing is scheduled for August 6, 2024, where further steps in the case will be determined.
