Court issued contempt notice against Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Monday

A Mumbai court on Monday issued a contempt notice against Google CEO Sundar Pichai. The notice pertains to YouTube’s failure to comply with a court order to remove the defamatory video titled ‘Pakhandi Baba Ki Kartoot’. The video targets animal welfare NGO Dhyan Foundation and its founder Yogi Ashwini.

The court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate at Ballard Pier had issued the notice on November 21 last. The case arose from a Bombay High Court order issued on March 31, 2024, asking YouTube to remove the controversial video. Dhyana Foundation alleged that the video contained objectionable and obscene content, causing damage to the reputation of the organization and Yogi Ashwini. Despite the court order, the video is available on YouTube outside India. Dhyan Foundation had filed a contempt petition in October last year, accusing Google of willfully disregarding the court order.