A Delhi court issued fresh summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in a 2018 defamation case filed by Vikas Sanskrityayan, who alleged that Rathee published and circulated a video titled BJP IT Cell Part II containing false allegations against him.
The court was told that Rathee, who ordinarily resides in Austria, is currently in India for the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) protests in the national capital.
New Delhi,Oct 15, 2026 08:35 IST
A Delhi court has issued fresh summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in an eight-year-old defamation case filed by BJP IT Cell member Vikas Pandey, noting that efforts to serve him have continued for several years.
The court was told that Rathee, who ordinarily resides in Austria, is currently in India for the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) protests in the national capital.
Judicial Magistrate Rahul Jain of the Saket court passed the order on October 12 after hearing an application by Pandey seeking fresh summons. The matter, earlier listed for November 20, was taken up after the complainant sought its preponement.
"From the available record, it is clear that the complainant has been trying to serve the accused no. 1 since the last several years," the court said, noting that Rathee had initially been summoned in July 2019.
Advocate Samaksh Sharma, appearing for Pandey, submitted that Rathee had travelled to India to participate in the CJP protests and argued that fresh summons were necessary to ensure prompt service.
The court directed that fresh summons, including dasti summons, be issued to Rathee at his Gurugram address in Haryana. It also allowed the complainant to accompany the court official responsible for serving them. The next hearing is scheduled for October 17.
The case stems from a complaint filed by Pandey in 2018 after Rathee uploaded a video about him on his YouTube channel.
Rathee faces other legal proceedings, including a Rs 20 lakh defamation suit filed by BJP leader Suresh Karamshi Nakhua. Nakhua alleged that Rathee described him as a "violent and abusive troll" in a video uploaded in July 2024. A court issued summons and notice to Rathee in that case the same month.
In a separate matter, Amit Sachdeva filed a complaint over a Rathee video, alleging that it contained objectionable remarks about Hindu deities and Sanatan Dharma. The complaint sought an FIR under Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
On October 10, 2026, Delhi and Gurugram Police detained Rathee from his residence in Gurugram's Sector 56 ahead of his planned participation in the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. He was released after around 22 hours.
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