In a sharp legal swipe at viral accusations, a Bengaluru court has ordered the takedown of a YouTube video by Sameer MD that allegedly defames Dr Veerendra Heggade—administrator of the revered Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala—and his family.
The March 6 order, issued by an Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, came swiftly and ex parte, triggered by a defamation suit filed by Sukesh AS and Sheenappa. The video, centered on the controversial 2012 Soujanya case, was deemed to contain defamatory insinuations, sparking a judicial response aimed at preventing what the court called “worsening reputational harm.”
In no uncertain terms, the judge ruled that the video “per se amounts to defamation” and warned of the continuing damage it could inflict, especially in a hyper-connected era where social media makes harmful content instantly viral.
“The Court prima facie found plaintiff would suffer from continuous defamation,” the order noted, underlining the urgency to block the clip’s spread on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Google.
At the heart of the storm is a video titled Dharmasthala Soujanya Case, which rehashes the rape and murder of a 17-year-old student in 2012. While the accused in that case were acquitted, Sameer MD’s video—according to the court—seems to reopen the wound under the guise of justice-seeking, while lacing the content with implied allegations toward Heggade.
The trial court also didn’t mince words about the nature of the video, calling it a “media trial” that ignores the legal conclusion of the case and instead propagates a parallel narrative. “Even then the defendant… allegedly made false and vexatious allegations,” the judge stated, reinforcing the risk of misinformation steering public perception.
Alongside the civil defamation suit, Sameer MD is also caught in a separate criminal case linked to the same video, this time for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. That FIR, however, is currently paused—thanks to a stay from the Karnataka High Court on March 11. The High Court also hit pause on a police notice summoning the YouTuber for questioning.
As of now, Sameer MD has been summoned in the civil case, with the next hearing set for April 25.
The case—fused with legal, digital, and emotional tensions—now continues in both online forums and courtroom corridors, reflecting a broader debate: where does digital advocacy end and defamation begin?
