Delhi court summons Dhruv Rathee in defamation case by BJP leader

A Delhi court has issued summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on a defamation case filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suresh Karamshi Nakhua after Rathee allegedly called him a “violent and abusive” troll..District Judge Gunjan Gupta of the Saket Court passed the order on July 19. The Court also issued notice to Rathee on Nakhua's plea for interim relief and said that matter will be heard next on August 6. "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. Process be also given dasti, as prayed," the Court ordered. Advocates Raghav Awasthi and Mukesh Sharma appeared for Nakhua..Rathee uploaded a video titled “My Reply to Godi Youtubers | Elvish Yadav | Dhruv Rathee” on his YouTube channel on July 7, 2024.Nakhua, the spokesperson for Mumbai unit of the BJP, alleged that Rathee referred to him as being part of “violent and abusive trolls” but the allegations is without any “rhyme or reason” and has the tendency to bring down his reputation.“That the Defendant No.1 [Dhruv Rathee], who in a highly provocative and incendiary video that spread like wildfire across digital platforms, made bold and unsubstantiated claims against the Plaintiff. The insidious intent behind this video lies in its unfounded insinuation that the Plaintiff is somehow linked to violent and abusive troll activities,” the suit argued.Nakhua said that because of the allegations made by Rathee, he (Nakhua) has faced widespread condemnation and ridicule.“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 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 repercussions of such false allegations are manifold, extending well beyond the realm of the video itself to irrevocably impact both the personal and professional domains of the Plaintiff, leaving scars that may never fully heal.”.[Read Order]