The Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed YouTube, X, and Meta to take down a video uploaded by YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh, which allegedly defames Isha Foundation and its founder, spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
The video, titled “Sadhguru EXPOSED: What’s Happening in Jaggi Vasudev’s Ashram”, was uploaded on Singh’s YouTube channel on 24 February 2025 and subsequently shared on his X page. The video, which has amassed over 937,000 views, 65,000 likes, and 13,000 comments, contained allegations suggesting the exploitation of minors at the ashram.
Justice Subramonium Prasad, in an interim order, restrained Singh from publishing or sharing the video. The court also prohibited members of the public from re-uploading it on any social media platform. The order came in response to a defamation suit filed by Isha Foundation, which argued that the video was defamatory and based on unverified claims.
“The contents of the video are per se defamatory and directly impact the reputation of the Plaintiff in the eyes of the general public,” the court observed, adding that Singh’s video title was a “clickbait” meant to attract attention.
The bench further noted that reputation is an integral aspect of an individual’s dignity and emphasized the need to balance freedom of expression with the right to reputation, which is protected under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
Isha Foundation was represented in court by Senior Advocate Manik Dogra and a legal team from Athena Legal, including Advocate Yajat Gulia. The case will next be heard on 9 July 2025, with the interim relief application scheduled for 9 May 2025.
(With inputs from LiveLaw)
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