Mumbai: In a relief for Maharashtra Water Resources Minister and senior BJP leader Girish Mahajan, the Bombay High Court has ordered deletion of six videos uploaded by two YouTubers against him observing that they were “prima facie defamatory”.
After watching the videos, Justice Arif Doctor said on May 8 a case for grant of interim relief has been made out. The judge said: “The statements made by defendants in the videos as discerned from the transcripts are in my prima facie view per se defamatory.”
While directing the Respondents to immediately take down/delete the six videos uploaded by them on YouTube, the court restrained them from uploading any more such videos or posts that would be defamatory against Mahajan.
The HC passed the order While hearing a defamation suit filed by Mahajan against one Anil Thatte and one more person claiming that six videos were uploaded between April 1 and April 14, 2025, contain a series of false and damaging allegations.
The minister also filed an application seeking that the duo be directed to delete the six videos uploaded on their YouTube channel that made defamatory remarks against him.
Despite a cease-and-desist notice sent to Thatte on April 10, a further video containing disparaging remarks was uploaded on April 14.
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.
Mahajan's counsel Ravi Kadam said false statements and insinuations are made in the videos regarding Mahajan's conduct with a lady IAS officer. He added that all these statements and insinuations were completely reckless, false and per se defamatory. The bench has scheduled the matter for further hearing on June 20.
