YouTuber Dhruv Rathee is facing fresh developments in a criminal defamation case filed in Delhi. A summons issued by Saket Court has been pasted on the main gate of his home in Central Vihar Society, Sector 56, Gurugram. The case was filed by Vikas Sankrityayan, also known as Vikas Pandey, a member of the BJP IT Cell. The next hearing is scheduled for October 17, and attention is now focused on the court proceedings.
Court Allows Special Service of Summons
According to the report, the court allowed the complainant to visit the address with court staff to serve the summons. Following this permission, the notice was pasted on the gate of Rathee’s residence. This method was used to communicate the court’s notice instead of handing it directly to him. The development comes after earlier attempts to serve the summons reportedly remained unsuccessful.
Dispute Over a 2018 YouTube Video
The defamation case relates to a video uploaded in 2018 titled BJP IT Cell Part-2. Vikas Pandey alleges that the video made baseless claims about him and the BJP IT Cell. According to his complaint, the video claimed that an attempt had been made to bribe a person named Mahavir Prasad through him. It also allegedly claimed that ₹50 lakh had been offered to defame Dhruv Rathee. Pandey maintains that these claims were false and fabricated.
Complainant Claims Damage to Reputation
Vikas Pandey has alleged that the statements in the video caused serious harm to his personal and social reputation. The criminal defamation case was filed over these claims. However, these remain allegations made by the complainant, and the court proceedings will determine how the matter progresses. The case has drawn attention because it involves a prominent YouTuber and allegations connected to political activities.
Earlier Summons Could Not Be Served
According to the complainant’s side, the first summons was issued in July 2019, but it could not be served for a long time. The reason cited was that Rathee was living in Austria and had reportedly not accepted direct service of the notice. The complainant’s side later received information that Rathee was in India, in the Delhi-NCR region. A fresh summons was then issued, leading to the latest action at his Gurugram residence.
October 17 Hearing in Focus
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 17. The development has also attracted attention amid discussions about a proposed flag-hoisting protest call by the Cockroach Janata Party at Central Park in Delhi, with speculation about Rathee’s possible participation. However, his participation has not been confirmed in the information provided. The immediate focus remains on the defamation case and the next steps in the court proceedings.
