Introduction:

The Delhi High Court witnessed heated arguments in the defamation case filed by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh against YouTuber and journalist Shyam Meera Singh. The case pertains to a video titled “How Gurmeet Ram Rahim fooled his bhakts?” published by Singh on December 17, prompting Ram Rahim’s defamation suit. The recent proceedings addressed tweets by Singh commenting on the ongoing case, leading to the Court seeking responsible conduct and refraining from further tweets while the matter is sub judice.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur, representing Gurmeet Ram Rahim, raised objections to Shyam Meera Singh’s tweets post the Court hearing. He highlighted Singh’s alleged attempt to prompt people to download his video before potential takedown and emphasized the damage caused to Ram Rahim’s reputation every second the video remains available. Advocates Kapil Madan and Gurmukh Singh Arora, representing Shyam Meera Singh, defended the video’s basis on a book by another journalist, Anurag Tripathi, and emphasized the need for the Court’s prima facie conclusion before ordering takedown to avoid setting a wrong precedent.

Court’s Judgment:

The Court expressed disapproval of Singh’s tweets during the ongoing case and directed him to refrain from further tweets while it is sub judice. Despite not ordering the immediate deletion of the video, the Court scheduled the next hearing for January 4, expecting Singh to file a reply by that date. The Court sought responsible conduct from Singh, emphasizing his role as a journalist and the need to avoid interfering with the justice delivery system.