Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed major online platforms including Google, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube to remove a controversial video posted by YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh regarding the Isha Foundation, founded by spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
The video, titled ‘What’s Happening in Sadhguru (Jaggi Vasudev)’s Ashram?’, was uploaded on February 24 and has since drawn significant attention. The court also restrained Singh from republishing the video on other social media platforms.
Court’s Directive on the Video
A bench led by Justice Subramonium Prasad issued the directive while pronouncing the interim order.
“Defendant number 1 to 3 (Google, X, and YouTube) are directed to take down the video, and Defendant number 4 (Shyam Meera Singh) is restrained from further publishing the video,” Justice Prasad stated.
Defamation Suit Filed by Isha Foundation
The Isha Foundation, represented by senior advocate Manik Dogra along with advocate Dhruv Pande, filed a defamation suit against Singh, claiming that his tweets and video were defamatory, scandalous, and damaging to the foundation’s reputation.
• The video amassed 9.5 lakh views on YouTube and received 13,500 comments, allegedly harming the foundation’s goodwill.
• The foundation asserted that the allegations were baseless and that the video was strategically uploaded two days before Maha Shivratri, an event attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the foundation’s headquarters.
“He’s a history-sheeter and has done something similar against other public figures,” argued advocate Dogra.
₹3 Crore Defamation Claim
Seeking ₹3 crore in damages, the Isha Foundation alleged that Singh’s intent was to sensationalize a non-issue, attract widespread attention, and benefit financially from increased views and engagement on his YouTube channel.
The foundation’s plea stated:
“Defendant No. 4 is unapologetically carrying out such acts intentionally and deliberately, with the objective of maligning the reputation and goodwill of the Plaintiff in the eyes of the general public owing to ulterior motives, including that of unjust enrichment.”
Next Hearing on May 9
The case is scheduled for its next hearing on May 9, where further legal proceedings will take place.
