A Delhi court has summoned YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in connection with a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suresh Karamshi Nakhua. This development was reported by Bar and Bench on Wednesday.
Nakhua, a spokesperson for the BJP’s Mumbai unit, filed the complaint after Rathee referred to him as a “violent and abusive” troll in a video. The allegedly defamatory remark was made in Rathee’s video titled “My Reply to Godi Youtubers, Elvish Yadav,” which was uploaded to his YouTube channel on July 7.
According to Nakhua’s plea, Rathee’s video was “highly provocative and incendiary,” spreading rapidly across digital platforms. Nakhua accused Rathee of making bold and unsubstantiated claims against him, alleging that the video insinuated he was linked to violent and abusive troll activities.
“That the Defendant No.1 [Rathee], who in a highly provocative and incendiary video that spread like wildfire across digital platforms, made bold and unsubstantiated claims against the Plaintiff [Nakhua],” the plea alleged. “The insidious intent behind this video lies in its unfounded insinuation that the Plaintiff is somehow linked to violent and abusive troll activities.”
Nakhua further claimed that Rathee’s allegations were made without any basis and were intended to damage his reputation. He accused Rathee of conducting a deliberate campaign to tarnish his integrity and standing in society.
“That through this cunningly crafted video, a deliberate campaign to besmirch the Plaintiff’s integrity and reputation is apparent, as baseless accusations and malicious connections are artfully insinuated,” the plea said. “The primary creator of this video that is Plaintiff seek not only to cast doubt on the Plaintiff’s character but also to tarnish his hard-earned standing in society, has planted seeds of suspicion and mistrust that can have far-reaching consequences.”
The Delhi court has issued a summons for Dhruv Rathee to appear in connection with the defamation case. This legal action highlights the ongoing tensions between political figures and social media influencers, particularly in the context of India’s dynamic political landscape and the increasing influence of digital platforms.
