Mumbai court issues contempt notice to Sundar Pichai over YouTube's non-compliance
Mumbai: A Mumbai court has issued a contempt notice to Google CEO Sundar Pichai over YouTube's failure to comply with a takedown order concerning a video allegedly defaming the Dhyan Foundation and its founder, Yogi Ashwini.
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court at Ballard Pier issued the notice on November 21, with the contempt petition filed by the Dhyan Foundation now set for hearing on January 3, 2025.
The controversy began in March 2023 when the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of the 38th Court, Ballard Pier, directed YouTube to remove a video titled "Pakhandi Baba ki Kartut". The NGO alleged that the video contained baseless and malicious allegations that harmed its reputation.
YouTube, owned by Google, argued that as an intermediary under the Information Technology Act, it was immune from liability for such content and claimed that defamation does not fall within the purview of s. 69-A of the Act, which deals with content blocking. The platform contended that such disputes should be addressed in civil courts.
Rejecting YouTube’s technical objections, the court maintained that criminal courts were not barred from intervening in such matters. The court also noted that the defamatory nature of the video was undisputed and warned that its circulation could pose a threat to public peace.
The Dhyan Foundation alleged that YouTube’s non-compliance with the takedown order led to the filing of the contempt petition in October 2023, with the notice being issued a year later in November 2024.
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Vijay unable to prove majority, not invited for CM oath ceremony: Sources
Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay has reportedly not been invited to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after failing to demonstrate support from the required number of MLAs, sources in Raj Bhavan said.
According to media reports that quoted sources in the office of R.N. Ravi Arlekar, Vijay could not prove the backing of 118 legislators, the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Despite last-minute efforts to secure support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam (AMMK), and an IUML legislator, Vijay reportedly managed support from only 116 MLAs, falling short by two members.
Sources said Vijay failed to submit letters of support from the VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Later, the IUML issued a statement clarifying that it was not part of the TVK-led alliance.
Meanwhile, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran is also said to have informed the Governor that his party would support the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) instead.
Earlier in the evening, Vijay had met Governor Arlekar and staked claim to form the government, stating that he enjoyed the support of 118 MLAs.
