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Dhruv Rathee video on Hindu deities withheld in India after Centre’s order, Google tells Delhi HC
India🏛️ PoliticsLean Conservative12 days ago

Dhruv Rathee video on Hindu deities withheld in India after Centre’s order, Google tells Delhi HC

A video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee discussing the dietary habits of Hindu deities, including claims that figures such as Ram and Krishna consumed meat and alcohol, has been blocked in India at the request of the Union government. The video remains accessible outside India, and a request for its global removal is currently under consideration by the Delhi High Court. Lawyer Amita Sachdeva, who filed the petition, argued that the video was derogatory, inflammatory, and communally sensitive, and she also filed a criminal complaint against Rathee for allegedly distorting Hindu scriptures and mocking 'Sanatan Dharma,' a term often used interchangeably with Hinduism. The Union government's Grievance Appellate Committee ordered the video's blockage after the High Court requested the Centre to act on the matter. Sachdeva further informed the court that the video could still be accessed within India via a virtual private network and urged for its global removal. The case was adjourned until September.

A video uploaded by popular Indian social media influencer Dhruv Rathee has been withheld from access in India following orders from the country's Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC), according to a statement made by Google to the Delhi High Court on August 11, 2026. The company confirmed that the video, which was originally posted on March 21, had been restricted within India but remained accessible elsewhere globally. A decision on whether to block it worldwide is still pending before a Division Bench of the High Court. The legal action stems from a petition filed by advocate Amita Sachdeva, who claims the video contains false, misleading, and provocative statements about several Hindu deities, including Lord Shri Ram, Lord Krishna, and Goddess Sita. According to Sachdeva, the video gained millions of views after being uploaded and has caused public concern due to its alleged offensive nature. Google's legal representatives informed the court that the video was blocked in India based on an order issued by the GAC on July 15. However, the company emphasized that the global removal of the content is still under consideration. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, presiding over the case, acknowledged that the matter of a global injunction was already before the Division Bench and noted that whatever actions had been taken were already completed. The court scheduled further hearings for September 3. The controversy began when Sachdeva first lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell on March 22, 2026, followed by submitting a grievance to YouTube’s Resident Grievance Officer on March 23. After YouTube declined to remove the content, citing no violations of its community guidelines, Sachdeva escalated the matter to the GAC on March 27. Despite the Information Technology Rules mandating that such appeals be resolved within 30 days, the process took over two and a half months to reach a decision. On July 3, the Delhi High Court directed the GAC to resolve the grievance within 15 days. Following this, Sachdeva filed another application alleging non-compliance with the court's directive. The GAC eventually issued an order on July 15 directing the removal of the video, but Google reportedly acted only partially, restricting access in India rather than globally. Sachdeva has also filed a separate complaint in a Delhi court requesting the registration of a criminal case against Rathee. She argues that the video insults Sanatan Dharma, misrepresents Hindu scriptures, spreads anti-Hindu sentiment, and incites religious disharmony, offenses she describes as serious and in need of immediate legal intervention. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between free speech and the regulation of online content in India. While platforms like YouTube operate under global standards, local laws often require tailored responses to complaints, leading to complex legal scenarios. The outcome of the pending Division Bench hearing could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in the future. Rathee, known for his educational and analytical content, has not publicly commented on the situation. His video, which sparked the legal battle, continues to be available outside India, raising questions about the balance between national regulations and international accessibility of digital content. As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on resolving the dispute in accordance with both Indian law and international norms governing online platforms.

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3 reports

Hindustan Times logoHindustan TimesIndependentConservativeFactual 98Objective 9512 days ago
Dhruv Rathee’s video allegedly disparaging deities withheld, Google tells HC

Google has informed the Delhi High Court that it withheld a video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee due to allegations that the content disparages Hindu deities. The video was directed for removal by the government’s online dispute resolution body on July 15, but Google stated it cannot remove the video globally as the matter is still under review by a division bench. Lawyer Amita Sachdeva filed a petition requesting the video's removal, claiming it contains harmful content and insults Hindu beliefs by suggesting deities consume meat and alcohol. She also filed a criminal complaint against Rathee, alleging the video distorts Hindu scriptures and spreads anti-Hindu sentiment. The case will be heard again on September 3.

Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the controversy around the video as a serious offense against religious beliefs, emphasizing claims of harm and distortion of Hindu scriptures. The focus on legal action and the portrayal of the video as 'hurtful' and 'defamatory' aligns with a conservative perspective that views亵

Why factuality (98): The article accurately reports that Google withheld the video in response to allegations of offending Hindu deities, citing the GAC directive. The timeline matches cross-source consensus, including the date of the GAC order (July 15) and the court hearing (Tuesday). The details about the legal proce

Why objectivity (95): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting facts without overt bias. It quotes the petitioner's claims and Google's response without taking sides. However, the phrase 'allegedly disparaging' introduces a slight nuance suggesting doubt, though this is standard reporting.

The Hindu logoThe HinduIndependentCenterFactual 97Objective 9412 days ago
Video uploaded by Dhruv Rathee withheld in India, global blocking pending: YouTube tells Delhi High Court

A YouTube video uploaded by social media influencer Dhruv Rathee has been withheld in India by Google, following claims that the content was defamatory and offensive to religious sentiments. Advocate Amita Sachdeva filed a petition with the Delhi High Court, arguing that the video, which received millions of views, contained false and provocative statements about Lord Shri Ram, Lord Krishna, and Goddess Sita. Google stated the restriction was based on an order from the Centre’s Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC), though the decision to block the video globally remains under review. Sachdeva argued that the GAC had ordered the video to be removed within 24 hours, but Google only withheld it in India, calling this partial compliance. The case highlights concerns over the speed and transparency of content moderation processes under Indian regulations.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the dispute between the advocate, Google, and the GAC without overtly favoring either side. It reports both parties' positions, Sachdeva's claim of partial compliance and Google's explanation of the restrictions, without taking a clear ideological stance. While the subject relates

Why factuality (97): This article provides consistent information with the first, confirming the withholding of the video in India due to the GAC order and the pending global block decision. It includes specific dates and names, such as Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma and the GAC, matching the cross-source consensus. Minor

Why objectivity (94): The article presents both sides of the issue, Google's actions and the petitioner's claims, without overtly favoring either. However, phrases like 'allegedly objectionable video' and 'false, misleading and provocative statements' reflect the petitioner's perspective, which may slightly influence the

Scroll.in logoScroll.inIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 7512 days ago
Dhruv Rathee video on Hindu deities withheld in India after Centre’s order, Google tells Delhi HC

A video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee discussing the dietary habits of Hindu deities, including claims that figures such as Ram and Krishna consumed meat and alcohol, has been blocked in India at the request of the Union government. The video remains accessible outside India, and a request for its global removal is currently under consideration by the Delhi High Court. Lawyer Amita Sachdeva, who filed the petition, argued that the video was derogatory, inflammatory, and communally sensitive, and she also filed a criminal complaint against Rathee for allegedly distorting Hindu scriptures and mocking 'Sanatan Dharma,' a term often used interchangeably with Hinduism. The Union government's Grievance Appellate Committee ordered the video's blockage after the High Court requested the Centre to act on the matter. Sachdeva further informed the court that the video could still be accessed within India via a virtual private network and urged for its global removal. The case was adjourned until September.

Bias read (Center): The article presents both perspectives: the claim made by Dhruv Rathee about Hindu deities' dietary habits and the counterargument that the video was derogatory and inflamed communal tensions. It includes statements from both the petitioner and the government, providing balanced coverage without明显的偏

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reflects that Google informed the Delhi High Court that the video was blocked in India but not globally. It mentions the pending global injunction request before a division bench, aligning with the primary source. However, it adds details about the content of the video and the

Why objectivity (75): The article presents the information neutrally overall but includes phrases such as 'derogatory, inflammatory and communally sensitive' which may imply judgment. The inclusion of background on the video's content and the complainant's perspective introduces some bias, though it does not strongly fav

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