A Delhi court has issued fresh summons to YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in a defamation case filed by Vikas Sankrityayan, also known as Vikas Pandey, over a video published in May 2018.
On October 12, Judicial Magistrate Rahul Jain of Saket Court allowed an application seeking an early hearing and the issuance of summons for personal service.
The complainant’s lawyer told the court that earlier summons had remained unserved for years because Rathee primarily lived abroad. The court was informed that the YouTuber is currently in India and staying in Gurugram, Haryana.
Rathee was first summoned in July 2019. The court permitted Pandey to accompany the process server to help ensure that the fresh summons are delivered. It also directed the complainant to submit the process fee within two days.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 17, 2026.
The case relates to a May 2018 video in which Rathee alleged that the BJP’s IT cell attempted to bribe Pandey to defame him. The video was retweeted by then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, prompting Pandey to initiate defamation proceedings against both Rathee and Kejriwal.