Reputation Integral Part Of Dignity: Delhi High Court While Directing Youtuber To Remove Defamatory Video Against Sadhguru

A Single Bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad held, “It is well settled that reputation is an integral part of the dignity of each individual and there is a need to balance between freedom of speech and freedom of expression vis-a-vis the right to reputation which has been considered as a part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The video does have a direct impact on the reputation of the founder of the Plaintiff/Trust.”

Isha Foundation was represented by Senior Advocate Manik Dogra, whereas Advocate Asavari Jain appeared for Google.

Brief Facts

The suit was filed by the Plaintiff, Isha Foundation, founded by Sadhguru, against YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh, alleging that he had circulated a video on his YouTube channel, which had the effect of defaming Sadhguru and tarnishing his image.

A video titled “Sadhguru EXPOSED: What’s happening in Jaggi Vasudev’s Ashram?” was published by the YouTuber with a following of 1.2 million subscribers, on his channel on February 24, 2025, which had garnered more than 9 lakh views and 13,500 comments.

The Isha Foundation averred that the premise of the entire video was based on a purported internal email shared between its office bearers. It was further submitted that the Youtuber, Defendant No.4, via an email, insisted that the information received by him from the office bearers was authentic as he had authenticated the same from Gmail. However, the alleged email had not been shared with them, nor was any effort made by the Youtuber to verify it with the concerned office bearers. It was also submitted that the alleged practices spoken of, as gathered from the alleged email, were false and fabricated, and no such practices were followed by them.

Reasoning of the Court

Upon perusing the video, transcript and emails, the Court opined, “In the opinion of this Court, the contents as mentioned in the video are per se defamatory and the same directly impinge upon the reputation of the Plaintiff in eyes of the general public as it states that the Plaintiff follows certain practices which are not accepted in the society”.

The Court observed that the Youtuber, without verifying the authenticity of the email, had proceeded to create a video based on entirely unverified material. Referring to the decision in Morgan Stanley Mutual Fund v. Kartick Das (1994), where the Apex Court laid down the parameters for granting an ex-parte injunction, the Bench noted that the Isha Foundation had established a prima facie case for granting such an injunction.

“Continuous circulation of the video is likely to cause harm to the Plaintiff/Trust’s reputation and as stated that more than 09 lakhs views and more than 13500 comments have already been reported. If the video is not taken down immediately, the Plaintiff/Trust will suffer loss of reputation which cannot be compensated monetarily. Balance of convenience also lies in restraining the Defendant No.4 to upload the very same video at any of the social media platforms and directing the Defendant Nos.1, 2, 3 & 4 to bring down the video which has been uploaded at these links as mentioned in paragraph No.8 of the plaint i.e., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtiHOm5i and https://www.youtube.com/@ShyamMeeraSingh1”, the Court added.

The Court, therefore, directed the Youtuber to remove the defamatory video and further directed Google, Defendant No.1, to take down the video from its platforms. Additionally, The Court also restrained the public from uploading the very same video on any social media platforms until the next date of hearing.

Cause Title: Isha Foundation v. Google LLC & Ors. (CS(OS) 159/2025)

Appearance:

Petitioner: Senior Advocate Manik Dogra; Advocates Simranjeet Singh, Gautam Talukdar, Pushpaveni Kakkaje, Rohit Gandhi, Rishabh Pant, Yajat Gulia

Respondents: Advocates Asavari Jain, Mr. Aditya Gupta

Click here to read/download Order