New Delhi, India – Google has informed the Delhi High Court that it has withheld a YouTube video uploaded by social media influencer Dhruv Rathee in India, following allegations that the content was defamatory and offended religious sentiments. The submission was made before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in a petition filed by advocate Amita Sachdeva, who has sought the removal of the allegedly objectionable video. According to Sachdeva, the video, uploaded on March 21, contained “false, misleading and provocative statements” concerning Lord Shri Ram, Lord Krishna, and Goddess Sita.
Google, which owns YouTube, clarified that the video was withheld in India pursuant to an order of the Centre’s Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC). However, the restriction was limited to India, with the question of blocking the video globally pending before a Division Bench of the High Court. Sachdeva submitted that the GAC had on July 15 directed Google to take down the video within 24 hours, but the platform had only withheld it in India, which she termed “partial compliance.” Justice Sharma noted that the issue of a global injunction was already pending before the Division Bench and observed, “Whatever they could do, they have already done,” while posting the matter for hearing on September 3.
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Sachdeva initially lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell on March 22, followed by a grievance before YouTube’s Resident Grievance Officer on March 23. After YouTube declined to remove the content, she approached the GAC on March 27. The petition alleges that despite the IT Rules requiring appeals to be resolved expeditiously, the appeal remained undecided for over two and a half months. On July 3, the High Court directed the GAC to decide her grievance within 15 days, leading to the current proceedings.
