The Supreme Court on Friday stayed further proceedings in a defamation suit filed by BJP MLA and former Madhya Pradesh minister Bhupendra Singh over social media posts and videos that allegedly linked him to multiple murders and the illicit liquor trade [Ravindra Jain v. Bhupendra Singh and Others].
Singh had filed the suit before the Delhi High Court against Ravindra Jain, who runs the Bhopal-based Sabki Khabar YouTube channel, and several others. He alleged that Jain’s videos suggested that he was involved in the illicit liquor trade and linked him to several deaths in Madhya Pradesh.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta yesterday issued notice on Jain’s petition seeking the transfer of the suit from the Delhi High Court to a competent court in Bhopal.
“Let notice be issued to the remaining respondents. In the meantime, further proceedings in CS(OS) No.479 of 2026, titled ‘Bhupendra Singh v. Abhishek Jain & Ors.’ pending before the High Court of Delhi, shall remain stayed,” the Court ordered.
In May, the Delhi High Court had passed an interim order directing the removal of specified videos and social media posts. It also restrained certain defendants, including Jain, from publishing similar allegations while the suit remained pending.
Jain subsequently approached the Supreme Court seeking the transfer of the suit to a competent court in Bhopal.
Before the Supreme Court, Jain argued that Singh, the contesting defendants and the events discussed in the publications were all connected to Madhya Pradesh.
He disputed Singh’s grounds for instituting the suit in Delhi and contended that the High Court had passed its interim order before giving him an opportunity to be heard.
The top court has now issued notice on Jain’s transfer petition while staying further proceedings before the Delhi High Court.
Advocate Shambhavi Shrivastava appeared for Jain. His plea was filed through Advocate Brajesh Pandey.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Bhatnagar with Advocates Mukesh Kumar and Vedarth Shivhare, appeared for the respondents.
[Read Order]