Dhruv Rathee video on Hindu deities eating meat withheld in India after Centre's order: Google tells Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court was informed on Tuesday that Dhruv Rathee's YouTube video - in which he allegedly said that Hindu gods Ram, Seeta and Krishna consumed meat and alcohol - has been withheld in India.

Google's counsel told Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma that the step was taken after the government's Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) passed the order.

A GAC is a government-established body that allows users to appeal decisions made by social media platforms and other online intermediaries regarding complaints about online content or accounts.

The GAC order came after Justice Sharma asked the government to decide Advocate Amita Sachdeva's plea flagging the content in 15 days.

Sachdeva today told the Court that the video can still be viewed outside India and in the country using a VPN. She then asked for an order to remove the video globally.

However, Google's counsel said that the issue of global removal of content is pending before the Division Bench of the High Court.

Sachdeva also told the Bench that some other YouTubers have also uploaded Rathee's video and asked for permission to approach Google with those videos so that they can also be removed.

Google opposed the request, stating that it would give rise to a separate cause of action and that a separate plea should be filed for the same.

Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, appearing for the government, stated that once a video has been objected to and it is nobody’s case that it can pass any muster, then the order should apply across the board.

"At least some indication must come in the order. Otherwise it will be an endless exercise," he said.

The Court has adjourned the case to September.

In her plea, Sachdeva took offence to a video uploaded by Rathee on YouTube on March 21, 2026, titled 'Can Hindus Eat BEEF? | Kerala Story 2 EXPOSED'.

She claimed that in the video, Rathee falsely stated that Ram, Seeta and Krishna consumed meat and alcohol, thereby insulting Hindu beliefs and offending devotees.

According to Sachdeva, the video is "highly derogatory, inflammatory and communally sensitive". She stressed that the video disclosed cognizable offences under Sections 196, 299 and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Notably, Sachdeva has also filed a criminal complaint in respect of the video before the magistrate court. The metropolitan magistrate has sought an action taken report from the police. In the criminal complaint, Sachdeva said that Rathee deliberately distorted Hindu scriptures, mocked the sanctity of Sanatan Dharma and promoted communal disharmony by linking dietary practices to caste and politics.