Google on Tuesday told the Delhi high court that it has withheld in India a “defamatory” YouTube video of social media influencer Dhruv Rathee, which allegedly hurt religious sentiments.

Google, which owns YouTube, made the statement before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on a petition filed by lawyer Amita Sachdeva.

Controversial Video Sparks Religious Outcry

Sachdeva claimed that on March 21, Rathee published a highly derogatory and communally sensitive video, which garnered millions of views on YouTube and contained “false, misleading, and provocative statements insulting Bhagwan Shri Ram, Bhagwan Shri Krishna and Sita Devi.”

Google’s counsel said action was taken pursuant to an order passed by the Centre’s Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC).

The video has been withheld only in India, as the issue of global blocking was pending before a division bench of the high court.

Legal Battle Over Global Blocking

Sachdeva said that on July 15, the GAC directed Google to take down the video within 24 hours, but it only “withheld the video” in India, which was only “partial compliance”.

“Issue regarding global injunction is already pending before the division bench. Whatever they could do, they have already done,” Justice Sharma responded.