Google Withholds Dhruv Rathee YouTube Video in India After Court Order

Google has informed the Delhi High Court that it has withheld a YouTube video by social media influencer Dhruv Rathee in India following allegations that the content was defamatory and hurt religious sentiments. The disclosure was made on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma during a hearing on a petition filed by lawyer Amita Sachdeva.

Sachdeva's petition claims that on March 21, 2026, Rathee published a video titled "Can Hindus Eat BEEF? Kerala Story 2 EXPOSED," which she describes as highly derogatory and communally sensitive. The plea states the video contained false, misleading, and provocative statements insulting Hindu deities, including Bhagwan Shri Ram, Bhagwan Shri Krishna, and Sita Devi, by claiming they consumed meat and alcohol. The video reportedly garnered millions of views.

Google's counsel stated that the action to withhold the video in India was taken pursuant to an order from the Central government's Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC). The GAC is a statutory body established under the Information Technology regime to hear appeals against content moderation decisions by online platforms. The video has been withheld only within India,...