The Saket Court of Delhi has issued a summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee and others in response to a defamation suit filed by Suresh Karamshi Nakhua, a spokesperson for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mumbai unit.
The summons, issued by District Judge Gunjan Gupta on July 19, 2024, also includes a notice of application under Order 39, Rule 1 and 2 of the CPC.
The court has scheduled a hearing for August 6, 2024. Advocates Raghav Awasthi and Mukesh Sharma are representing the plaintiff in this matter.
Allegations of Defamation
The defamation suit centers on a video uploaded by Dhruv Rathee on July 7, 2024, titled “My Reply to Godi Youtubers | Elvish Yadav | Dhruv Rathee”. This video, which has garnered over 24 million views and more than 2.3 million likes, allegedly includes defamatory remarks about Suresh Nakhua. In the video, Rathee claims that Prime Minister Modi hosted violent and abusive trolls, specifically naming Ankit Jain, Suresh Nakhua, and Tajinder Bagga, at his official residence.
Plaintiff’s Claims
Suresh Karamshi Nakhua contends that Rathee’s video falsely attributes violent tendencies to him without any justification. The suit argues that such allegations are damaging, especially considering Nakhua’s association with Prime Minister Modi. Nakhua asserts that the video is designed to harm his reputation by portraying him as a violent and abusive troll, which has led to a significant negative impact on his public image.
Impact of the Allegations
According to the plaintiff, Dhruv Rathee’s video has caused severe damage to his reputation, leading to widespread condemnation and ridicule. The suit emphasizes that the false accusations have caused irreparable harm to both Nakhua’s personal and professional life. Nakhua claims that Rathee’s incendiary and provocative statements were made with insidious intent, further aggravating the situation by spreading rapidly across digital platforms.
The court’s summons marks the beginning of a legal battle that will address these serious allegations and their implications for both parties involved.
