Delhi High Court Orders Takedown of Allegedly Defamatory Content Against Isha Foundation

In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court has directed Tamil magazine Nakkheeran to remove allegedly defamatory content published against Isha Foundation. The Foundation had approached the Court seeking ₹3 crore in damages, alleging that a series of articles and videos carried serious and unverified accusations ranging from exploitation and brainwashing to illegal activities which created reputational harm.

The dispute traces back to 2024, when Isha Foundation initiated a defamation suit before the Delhi High Court against Nakkheeran Publications, contending that the publication was running a sustained campaign of damaging content. The Foundation also impleaded Google LLC, given that the content was widely accessible via search results and YouTube.

Subsequently, Nakkheeran sought transfer of the case from Delhi to Chennai by approaching the Supreme Court. However, in July 2025, the Supreme Court directed both parties to pursue their remedies before the Delhi High Court, effectively allowing the matter to continue there.

Throughout the proceedings, the Foundation has consistently maintained that the allegations are baseless and harmful, particularly in the digital era where such content gains rapid amplification.

Isha Foundation was represented by Sr. Adv. Mr. Rajshekhar Rao and his team, along with Mr. Simranjeet Singh, Partner; Mr. Rishabh Pant, Advocate and Mr. Abhijeet Pandey, Advocate from Athena Legal.

The High Court’s direction to take down the content marks an important interim relief in the ongoing defamation suit. The case is being closely watched for its broader implications on media accountability, platform liability (including intermediaries like Google/YouTube), and the threshold for defamatory content in the digital ecosystem.