Mon Dec 02 14:16:29 UTC 2024: ## Google CEO Served Contempt Notice in India Over Defamatory YouTube Video
**Mumbai, India –** Google CEO Sundar Pichai has been served a contempt notice by a Mumbai court for the company’s alleged failure to remove a defamatory video from YouTube. The video, titled “Pakhandi Baba ki Kartut,” targeted spiritual guru Yogi Ashwini and his animal welfare NGO, Dhyan Foundation.
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Ballard Pier issued the notice on November 21st, following a petition filed by the Dhyan Foundation. The foundation claims YouTube, owned by Google, deliberately ignored repeated requests to remove the video, causing significant reputational damage. They accused Google of employing delay tactics in court.
Google, represented by Pichai, argued that its intermediary status under the Information Technology (IT) Act grants it immunity from such requests, and that defamation should be handled in civil, not criminal, courts. However, the court rejected this argument, stating that the IT Act does not preclude criminal court intervention, especially in cases involving sensitive religious beliefs that could threaten public order.
The court emphasized the potential for the video to incite unrest and highlighted the responsibility of tech platforms to comply with Indian judicial orders. The magistrate deemed the video’s continued presence on YouTube a potential threat to public peace.
The case, set for a further hearing on January 3, 2025, could set a significant precedent for how Indian courts handle content moderation disputes involving international tech companies. The outcome will have implications for the balance between freedom of speech and the protection of reputational rights on online platforms operating within India.
First Piper 