On May 8, 2025, the Bombay High Court issued an interim order directing the removal of six videos from YouTube that were deemed “prima facie defamatory” against Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan. The videos, uploaded between April 1 and April 14, 2025, were published by journalists Anil Thatte and Shyam Giri on their respective YouTube channels, “Anil Gaganbhedi Thatte” and “Mudda Bharat Ka.”

The court found that the videos contained false and damaging allegations about Mahajan, including insinuations about his conduct with a senior IAS officer and financial impropriety. Despite receiving a cease-and-desist notice, the defendants continued to publish the videos. Justice Arif Doctor noted that the defendants failed to appear in court to justify their statements, leading to the interim order for the videos’ removal and a restraining order against further defamatory content. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on June 20, 2025.

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