A Delhi court has issued new summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee concerning an eight-year-old defamation case initiated by Vikas Pandey, a member of the BJP IT Cell. The court’s decision was made on October 12, following an application from Pandey requesting fresh summons. The court noted that attempts to serve Rathee have been ongoing for several years, with the initial summons being issued in July 2019.

Judicial Magistrate Rahul Jain of the Saket court acknowledged that Rathee, who usually resides in Austria, is currently in India to participate in protests organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in the national capital. The complainant’s request for the case to be expedited was taken into consideration, leading to the issuance of the new summons.

The court directed that the summons, including dasti summons, be sent to Rathee’s address in Gurugram, Haryana. Furthermore, the court permitted the complainant to accompany the official responsible for serving the summons. The next hearing in this matter is set for October 17.

Background of the Defamation Case

The defamation case stems from a complaint filed by Pandey in 2018, following the upload of a video by Rathee on his YouTube channel that allegedly contained defamatory content about him. The ongoing legal proceedings have highlighted the complexities surrounding the service of summons, as Rathee’s residence outside India has posed challenges in ensuring he is properly notified.

Advocate Samaksh Sharma, representing Pandey, argued that Rathee’s presence in India for the CJP protests warranted the issuance of fresh summons to facilitate prompt service. The court’s ruling reflects the ongoing efforts by the complainant to bring the case to resolution after years of attempts to serve Rathee.

In addition to this case, Rathee is also facing other legal challenges. Notably, he is involved in a Rs 20 lakh defamation suit filed by BJP leader Suresh Karamshi Nakhua. Nakhua claims that Rathee referred to him as a “violent and abusive troll” in a video published in July 2024. The court has issued summons and notice to Rathee regarding this matter as well.

Additional Legal Proceedings Involving Rathee

In a separate incident, a complaint was filed by Amit Sachdeva concerning a video posted by Rathee, which allegedly contained objectionable remarks about Hindu deities and Sanatan Dharma. The complaint has sought the registration of an FIR under Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, indicating the serious nature of the allegations against Rathee.

On October 10, 2026, Rathee was reportedly detained by Delhi and Gurugram Police at his residence in Gurugram’s Sector 56, just before he was set to participate in the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. After approximately 22 hours in custody, he was released. This incident adds to the scrutiny surrounding Rathee and his ongoing legal battles.

The developments in these cases underscore the increasing tensions between social media influencers and political figures in India, particularly in the context of defamation and public discourse. As the legal proceedings continue, the outcomes may have significant implications for both Rathee and the broader landscape of online commentary in the country.

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