Dhruv Rathee Video Controversy with Dabur India

The Calcutta High Court’s frustration with Dabur India over its insistence on passing orders to take down a YouTube video by Dhruv Rathee

which allegedly disparages its product ‘Real Fruit Juice’, has caught the attention of the Indian media. The Court had initially asked Rathee to retract portions of the video that disparaged Dabur’s product, but when the YouTuber’s counsel stated that the video had been made private and taken down, Dabur’s counsel objected and asked for other similar videos to be pulled down. The Court was not impressed with the request and stated that Dabur would have to show malafide on Rathee’s part to pursue the case further.

The controversy surrounding the video began when Dabur India filed a petition with the Calcutta High Court, claiming that the video uploaded by Dhruv Rathee contained false and defamatory statements against its product ‘Real Fruit Juice’. The company alleged that the video claimed that the product contained harmful chemicals and was not healthy for consumption, which was untrue and had harmed the company’s reputation.

The Court, after hearing the arguments of both parties, had initially asked Dhruv Rathee to retract the portions of the video that disparaged Dabur’s product. However, the company claimed that the YouTuber had not complied with the order and had instead made the video private, which had prevented it from being taken down by YouTube.

During the hearing, Dhruv Rathee counsel had informed the Court that his client had gone a step ahead of the order and had made the video private, which meant that it could not be accessed by the public. However, Dabur’s counsel objected to this, claiming that there were several other videos that had been uploaded by other channels and that had contained the same defamatory content as Dhruv Rathee video. The company asked for these videos to be taken down as well, alleging that they were originally made by Dhruv Rathee.

The Court was not impressed with Dabur’s submission and stated that the company would have to show malafide on Dhruv Rathee part to obtain the restraining order. The Court also observed that it would not allow a multinational company to pursue a case like this against an individual without proper evidence of wrongdoing.

The case has garnered a lot of attention from the Indian media, with many people expressing their opinions on social media. Some have criticized Dabur for trying to silence a YouTuber who was expressing his opinion on a product, while others have questioned the veracity of the claims made in the video.

Dhruv Rathee is a well-known YouTuber in India, known for his videos on social, political, and environmental issues. He has over 8 million subscribers on YouTube and is known for his critical analysis of government policies and actions. Rathee has not yet commented on the controversy surrounding his video on ‘Real Fruit Juice’.

Dabur India is a leading consumer goods company in India, known for its range of health and wellness products. The company has been in business for over 135 years and has a strong presence in India and other countries. The company’s products are widely used and trusted by consumers across India.

The controversy surrounding the video has raised questions about the role of social media in shaping public opinion and the responsibility of content creators on these platforms. It has also highlighted the importance of freedom of speech and the right to express one’s opinions without fear of reprisals.

The Calcutta High Court’s decision to order the takedown of the video has also raised concerns about the role of the judiciary in regulating content on social media platforms. While the Court has the power to issue restraining orders in cases of defamation and other offences, there are concerns that such orders could be misused by powerful entities to silence dissent