The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a directive to major tech giants, including Google, X (formerly Twitter), and Meta (parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), to remove an allegedly defamatory video targeting the Isha Foundation and its founder, Jaggi Vasudev, also known as Sadhguru. The court’s order followed a defamation suit filed by the Isha Foundation against the video’s creator, YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh.
The contentious video, titled “Sadhguru EXPOSED: What’s happening in Jaggi Vasudev’s Ashram”, was uploaded on February 24 on Singh’s YouTube channel, according to Live Law. The video purportedly made serious allegations, including claims that minors were being exploited within the Isha Foundation’s ashram. Singh had also shared the same video on X (formerly Twitter), amplifying its reach.
Legal Action by Isha Foundation
In response to the video, the Isha Foundation filed a defamation lawsuit against Singh, arguing that the content was malicious, defamatory, and factually incorrect. The foundation sought the immediate removal of the video from all platforms as an interim relief until a final ruling on the matter.
On March 13, Justice Subramonium Prasad of the Delhi High Court ruled in favor of the Isha Foundation’s plea, directing social media platforms and search engines to ensure that the video is removed or blocked from public access. The court also instructed Singh to refrain from publishing, sharing, or re-uploading the video in any form.
Apart from ordering the takedown of the current video, the court explicitly warned against the further dissemination of any similar content. It stated that neither Shyam Meera Singh nor his subscribers could create, publish, or distribute any new videos containing defamatory statements about Sadhguru or the Isha Foundation.
The court’s statement read:
“Defendant 4 [Shyam Meera Singh] and the subscribers of his YouTube channel are restrained from creating, publishing, uploading, and disseminating defamatory videos.”
The court has scheduled the defamation suit for a full hearing on July 9, 2024. Meanwhile, the application for interim relief, which involves the immediate takedown of the video, will be reviewed on May 9, 2024.
In its legal filing, the Isha Foundation strongly opposed the allegations made in Singh’s video, calling them baseless and fabricated. According to Bar and Bench, the foundation argued that the claims presented in the video were not only false but also aimed at tarnishing its reputation. The organization asserted that such content misled the public and created unwarranted controversy around Sadhguru and the activities of the Isha Foundation.
The court’s decision marks a significant step in regulating digital content related to public figures and organizations. It highlights the increasing judicial scrutiny of defamatory and potentially misleading content uploaded on social media platforms. This case also raises questions about the limits of free speech versus protection from online defamation, particularly when allegations remain unverified.
Moving forward, the outcome of this case could set a legal precedent on how courts handle defamation suits related to digital content, social media influence, and online activism. The upcoming May 9 hearing will determine whether the interim ban on Singh’s video will be extended, while the July 9 hearing will focus on the merits of the defamation case in its entirety.