Mon Dec 02 17:12:23 UTC 2024: ## Google CEO Pichai Faces Contempt Charges Over Defamatory YouTube Video

**Mumbai, India –** Google CEO Sundar Pichai has been issued a contempt notice by a Mumbai court for the company’s failure to remove a defamatory YouTube video. The video, titled “Pakhandi Baba ki Kartut,” allegedly targets the Dhyan Foundation, an animal welfare NGO, and its founder, Yogi Ashwini.

The Additional Chief Justice Magistrate’s Court in Ballard Pier issued the notice on November 21, 2023, stemming from a March 2022 court order mandating the video’s removal. The Dhyan Foundation filed a contempt petition in October 2022, alleging that YouTube continued to host the video, even internationally, causing significant reputational damage. The NGO accused Google of intentionally disregarding the court order.

Google, citing intermediary immunity under the IT Act, argued that defamation claims should be handled in civil court, not criminal court. However, the court rejected this argument, clarifying that the IT Act doesn’t prevent criminal courts from intervening in such cases.

The next hearing is scheduled for January 3, 2025. This legal action comes amidst other challenges for Google in India, including an ongoing investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) following a complaint from gaming platform WinZO. The CCI previously penalized Google in 2022 for abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile ecosystem and Play Store.

Read More