A Delhi court has issued summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in a Rs 20 lakh defamation suit filed by BJP leader Suresh Nakhua.
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has received a summons from a Delhi court in relation to a defamation lawsuit brought by Suresh Karamshi Nakhua, the BJP spokesperson for Mumbai. Nakhua has alleged that Rathee in his YouTube video “My Reply to Gody YouTubers | Elvish Yadav” called him part of a “violent and abusive troll”. He has sought Rs 20 lakh damages from Rathee for “defamation caused to him in cyber space”. District Judge Gunjan Gupta of Saket Court issued the summons in the defamation suit filed against Rathee, as well as Google LLC and X Corp.
“Issue summons and notice of application under Rule 1 and 2 of CPC to the respondents by 06.08.2024 subject to taking steps by all modes i.e. electronic mode including PF & RC/speed post/approved courier,” the court ordered.
According to Nakhua, Rathi made the accusation that Prime Minister Narendra Modi entertained “violent and abusive trolls such as Ankit Jain, Suresh Nakhua, and Tajinder Bagga” at his official residence in the aforementioned video.
“The impugned video has garnered over 24 million views and over 2.3 million likes, the number increasing with each passing moment,” the complaint stated.
It added that Nakhua’s reputation has suffered immense damage as a result of Rathi’s allegedly defamatory statements in the video. It said the alleged false allegations levelled by Rathi have led to widespread condemnation and ridicule of Nakhua, causing irreparable damage to his personal and professional life.
The suit said Defendant No. 1 has also been habitually engaged in defamation, issuing online threats, sabotaging the career of fellow YouTubers, etc., for which he is using his audience, which includes over23.3 million YouTube subscribers and more than 2.6 million X platform followers.
The suit sought to restrain Rathi from tweeting, posting or creating any content on YouTube or X Corp about Nakhua.
