Delhi Court Issues Summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee Over Defamation Allegations by BJP

Islamabad:A Delhi court has issued summons against prominent YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on a defamation complaint filed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP spokesperson Suresh Karamshi Nikuva alleged that Rathee had uploaded a video on July 7 on his YouTube channel where he was labeled as “violent and abusive.”

The BJP’s complaint seeks damages amounting to 2 million rupees, with a hearing scheduled for August 6 on the matter.

According to Indian media reports, there has been no response from Dhruv Rathee regarding the court summons so far. Last week, Maharashtra’s cyber police registered a case against Rathee on the social media platform X for allegedly spreading fake news about the daughter of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The case alleged a fabricated news story.

Opposition parties have criticized this action as an attempt by the government to control social media. Arfa Khanum Sherwani, associated with the news website ‘The Wire’, stated that social media has become a platform for public opinion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 10-year rule, leading to the government’s desperation.

Senior journalist and analyst Omkant Lakhera explained that Dhruv Rathee had produced multiple videos criticizing government policies during the Lok Sabha elections, which attracted millions of viewers. His videos were perceived as a challenge to the government’s narrative rather than introducing new issues.

Reports suggest that several state governments have taken action against numerous YouTubers. For instance, the Uttar Pradesh government arrested a YouTuber for highlighting deteriorating public health conditions in the state through his videos.

Analysts argue that national media has become supportive of the government, thereby avoiding scrutiny on national issues, thus enhancing the importance of social media. Dhruv Rathee’s popularity is attributed to his use of the platform to voice dissent and produce videos that attract millions of viewers.

Dhruv Rathee, originally from Rohtak district in Haryana state, received his initial education locally before pursuing higher education in Germany. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering and resides there after marrying a German woman. Rathee started his YouTube channel in 2013, initially focusing on social and educational issues before branching into political subjects.

According to ‘The Print’, Rathee was among the first Indians to use YouTube as a political platform. He transitioned from travel videos to political and social commentary by the end of the year.

In April of the current year, he announced the launch of five new YouTube channels that would feature videos dubbed in five Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi, and Kannada.