The Bombay High Court has ordered the takedown of six videos from YouTube, allegedly defaming Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan.
It further restrained the two YouTubers, who uploaded the videos, from making, publishing or circulating, any defamatory/libellous/slanderous statements, video or articles, pending the determination of a civil defamation suit filed by Mahajan.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Arif Doctor observed that the defendants (YouTubers) accused of uploading such defamatory content have chosen not to appear before the Court and defend their conduct.
In the absence of any defence, the allegations in the videos appeared to be prima facie and per se defamatory, warranting immediate restraint, noted the High Court.
Mahajan contended in his suit that six videos uploaded between April 1 and April 14, 2025, allegedly contained a series of false and damaging allegations.
Five of these were published on the YouTube channel ‘Anil Gaganbhedi Thatte,’ run by YouTuber and journalist Anil Thatte, while one appeared on ‘Mudda Bharat Ka,’ operated by one Shyam Giri.
The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader claimed that one of the videos, titled ‘How Girish Mahajan’s Nights are Colourful,’ allegedly made baseless insinuations involving a senior IAS officer.
In the video titled ‘Girish Mahajan wants 100 Crores… another sensational revelation,’ Thatte allegedly mocked potential legal notices and suggested that the Minister was involved in financial misconduct.
Despite a cease-and-desist notice issued against Thatte on April 10, a further video containing disparaging remarks was uploaded on April 14, he added.
Senior Advocate Ravi Kadam, representing Mahajan, submitted that the videos were false, reckless, and defamatory, aimed purely at sensationalism.
The content, which had garnered substantial public viewership, posed serious harm to Mahajan’s reputation, who has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Jalgaon since 1995, noted the lawyer.
He said the defendants had demonstrated ‘scant’ regard for the law by continuing their conduct even after receiving legal notices.
No one appeared on behalf of Thatte or Giri. A third party, originally impleaded, was clarified to be an incorrect party. The High Court allowed the plaint to be amended to add Google LLC as a defendant, noting it operated the YouTube platform.
The single-judge Bench directed Mahajan to serve a copy of the order on Google LLC to ensure compliance with the takedown directive and listed the matter for further hearing on June 20.