Ram Rahim Defamation Case: Delhi HC Expresses Displeasure over Youtuber’s Tweet

The Delhi High Court expressed dissatisfaction with a tweet by YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh, stating that he had placed his video related to Gurmeet Ram Rahim in private mode due to compulsion. The court issued a warning of contempt if such actions were repeated in the future.

During the previous hearing, Singh informed the Delhi High Court that he would make the video against Gurmeet Ram Rahim private until Monday. However, in Monday’s hearing, Justice Jasmeet Singh expressed displeasure over Singh’s tweet, clarifying that the court did not compel him to make the video private. The court warned of initiating contempt proceedings if such statements were repeated, emphasizing the dignity of the court and the lack of coercion in court decisions.

Senior advocate Mohit Mathur, representing Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, informed the court that Shyam Meera Singh had posted tweets even after the last orders. The court examined the content of the tweets, stating it was unfair and underscoring the court’s competence to issue orders on the case’s merits.

Shyam Meera Singh was present during the hearing, and the matter was listed for further hearing on January 10, as senior advocate Salman Khurshid was unavailable on Monday. The court had previously urged the parties to collaborate and find a resolution.

Earlier, on December 30, 2023, Shyam Meera Singh assured the Delhi High Court that he would delete the tweets against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. The court, hearing a suit filed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim seeking a stay and deletion of Singh’s YouTube video, directed Singh to delete the tweets, considering them defamatory and contemptuous.

Singh’s counsel, Kapil Madan, and Advocate Gurmukh Singh assured the court of deleting the tweets on the same day and refraining from further tweets during the ongoing legal proceedings. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had filed the suit, seeking the removal of the video and directions to delete it. The court had issued notice and instructed Singh to file the soft copy of the video as part of the record.

During the hearing, Singh’s counsel argued against the suit’s maintainability, questioning how a person in jail could view a YouTube video. The court suggested that Singh could remove the video voluntarily until the next date. Singh’s counsel argued about the defamatory nature of the video and the potential infringement on Singh’s rights.

Senior advocate Mohit Mathur argued that the video’s availability on YouTube could prejudice Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s reputation. The court emphasized the need to determine whether the video was defamatory and agreed to consider Singh’s request for a few days to file a response. Despite objections, Singh’s counsel committed to deleting the tweets promptly.

The court had issued notice on December 29, 2023, on Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s suit for injunction against YouTuber Shyam Meera Singh, alleging defamation and seeking the removal of the contested video. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is currently serving a jail term for rape.