Defamation Deterred: Delhi High Court's Ruling Puts an End to Disparaging Videos in Maheshwari Dispute
January 14, 2024: In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court issued an injunction on Monday, prohibiting Vikash Kotnala, YouTube channel partner of entrepreneur Vivek Bindra, from posting defamatory or disparaging content against YouTuber and motivational speaker Sandeep Maheshwari.
Justice Prateek Jalan passed the order, stating that Kotnala's videos appeared to be an attempt to bypass a civil court order that had restrained both Maheshwari and Bindra from making defamatory statements against each other. The court reached this conclusion by establishing a prima facie link between Kotnala and Bindra.
This legal move comes in the wake of a civil court order on December 22, 2023, which had already restrained Maheshwari and Bindra from making defamatory allegations against each other. Sandeep Sethi, Senior Advocate for Maheshwari, argued that Kotnala, allegedly propped by Bindra, was responsible for making damaging allegations against Maheshwari.
Reference was made to two videos posted by Kotnala, where he claimed that Maheshwari attempted to extort money from Bindra and accused him of using students to undermine Bindra's market position.
Justice Jalan remarked on the declining discourse on social media platforms as rivals engage in public battles, describing it as a "war" playing out on YouTube channels.
The Court, acknowledging that Maheshwari presented a prima facie case and that irreparable harm could occur without an injunction order, ruled in favor of Maheshwari. It restrained Kotnala from publishing any defamatory or disparaging content against Maheshwari in any online or offline mode until the next hearing.
The ongoing feud between Maheshwari and Bindra began on December 11, 2023, when Maheshwari released a video titled 'Big Scam Exposed,' hinting at Bindra's involvement without directly naming him. The video, garnering millions of views, alleged that Bindra was running a scam with a 10-day MBA course.
This initiated a series of responses from both parties, with Maheshwari claiming pressure to take down the video and alleged intimidation. Bindra, in turn, denied any wrongdoing and responded with a video on his YouTube channel, viewed by nearly 4 million people.
With both Maheshwari and Bindra boasting massive social media followings, the legal intervention underscores the intensity of the ongoing public feud between these influential personalities in the online sphere. The Delhi High Court's injunction adds a legal dimension to the clash of words on YouTube. Stay tuned for updates as this digital battle unfolds."**
