Mumbai Court Issues Contempt Notice to Google CEO Sundar Pichai Regarding Defamatory Video on Yogi Ashwini
A Mumbai court has issued a contempt notice to Google CEO Sundar Pichai for allegedly failing to comply with an order to remove a defamatory video targeting the Dhyan Foundation and its founder, Yogi Ashwini. As reported by The Times of India, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court at Ballard Pier issued the notice on November 21, 2023, citing YouTube’s non-compliance with a March 2022 directive to delete the video titled “Pakhandi Baba ki Kartut.”
The Dhyan Foundation, an NGO focused on animal welfare, filed a contempt petition in October 2022, claiming YouTube’s refusal to take down the video — even on platforms outside India — caused significant harm to the reputation of the organization and its founder. The petition accused Google of deliberately delaying action and seeking unwarranted adjournments while the defamatory content remained accessible. The foundation argued that the video contained false and malicious allegations, leading to reputational damage, and alleged that Google’s actions demonstrated a deliberate effort to evade compliance with the court’s order.
YouTube, in its defense, cited intermediary protections under the IT Act and argued that the content did not fall under Section 69-A, which specifies grounds for removal. The platform also maintained that defamation cases are more appropriately resolved in civil courts rather than criminal courts. However, the court dismissed these arguments, stating that the IT Act does not preclude criminal courts from handling such matters. The court clarified that the procedural references provided by YouTube were not sufficient to invalidate the current application and affirmed the maintainability of the case.
The case has been scheduled for a further hearing on January 3. Meanwhile, Google faces additional scrutiny in India, including an antitrust investigation initiated by gaming company WinZO. This adds to the tech giant’s ongoing regulatory challenges, such as penalties imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2022 for alleged abuse of dominance in the Android ecosystem and Play Store. The CCI is now examining Google’s practices in the gaming sector. These developments underscore the increasing legal and regulatory challenges Google is confronting in India.