The Supreme Court has put a hold on proceedings before the Delhi High Court in a defamation suit filed by BJP MLA and former Madhya Pradesh minister Bhupendra Singh over social media content that allegedly connected him with murders and the illicit liquor trade.
A Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice on a petition filed by Ravindra Jain, who operates the Bhopal-based Sabki Khabar YouTube channel. Jain has asked that Singh’s suit be moved from Delhi to a competent court in Bhopal.
Singh had approached the Delhi High Court against Jain and several others, alleging that videos and social media posts falsely portrayed him as being involved in the illicit liquor business and associated him with multiple deaths in Madhya Pradesh.
The Supreme Court has now directed that further proceedings in the Delhi case, Bhupendra Singh v. Abhishek Jain & Ors., remain stayed while Jain’s transfer plea is considered.
The order stated:
“Let notice be issued to the remaining respondents. In the meantime, further proceedings in CS(OS) No.479 of 2026 … shall remain stayed.”
The dispute had earlier resulted in interim directions from the Delhi High Court in May. The High Court ordered the removal of specified videos and social media posts and restrained certain defendants, including Jain, from putting out similar allegations while the defamation proceedings continued.
Jain later moved the Supreme Court, arguing that the dispute had a stronger connection with Madhya Pradesh. According to his plea, the parties involved and the events referred to in the disputed material were all connected to the State.
He also challenged the decision to institute the proceedings in Delhi and questioned the interim directions issued by the High Court before he had an opportunity to present his case.
With the Supreme Court’s latest order, the Delhi proceedings will remain on hold pending consideration of the transfer petition.
Jain was represented by Advocates Brajesh Pandey and Shambhavi Shrivastava.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Bhatnagar, along with Advocates Mukesh Kumar and Vedarth Shivhare, appeared for the respondents.