Google Defamation Case Paused By Mumbai Court: All You Need To Know

The legal dispute dates back to July 2021, when Dhyan Foundation sought the removal of certain videos on YouTube and images indexed on Google Search.

Google filed a criminal revision application in the Sessions Court, challenging the validity of the Magistrate Court’s orders.

Source : Mitchell Luo/Unsplash

The Mumbai Sessions Court has temporarily stayed proceedings in a defamation case involving Google, granting the tech giant interim relief. The case stems from allegations made by Dhyan Foundation, which claims that Google failed to take down defamatory online content targeting Yogi Ashwini, a spiritual figure associated with the organisation.

What Is The Dispute All About?

The legal dispute dates back to July 2021, when Dhyan Foundation approached the Ballard Pier Magistrate Court, seeking the removal of certain videos on YouTube and images indexed on Google Search.

The foundation alleged that these materials were intended to humiliate and defame their organisation and Yogi Ashwini. Google opposed the application, arguing that the Magistrate Court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate such matters. Despite these objections, the court, in March 2023, directed the removal of the specified content.

Months later, in August 2023, Dhyan Foundation escalated the matter, filing a contempt plea against Google’s CEO. The foundation accused Google of non-compliance with the court’s earlier order, arguing that the defamatory content remained accessible.

Acting on this plea, the Magistrate Court issued a notice in November 2023, asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against the company.

How Did Google Respond?

In response, Google filed a criminal revision application in the Sessions Court, challenging the validity of the Magistrate Court’s orders. Advocates Aabad Ponda and Changez Keswani, representing Google, contended that the alleged defamatory video had already been removed.

They also pointed out that the URL cited by Dhyan Foundation was invalid, undermining the foundation’s claims. The legal team further argued that allowing the Magistrate Court’s proceedings to continue would render Google’s appeal infructuous.

After hearing the arguments, Sessions Judge V.S. Gaike agreed that Google had raised substantive legal issues. He issued a stay on the contempt proceedings initiated by the Magistrate Court and scheduled the next hearing for February 5, 2025.