In a major development linked to the controversial Soujanya rape and murder case, a ₹10 crore defamation lawsuit has been filed against YouTuber Sameer MD — known for his channel “Dhootha.” The case comes after he allegedly violated a court order by releasing a second video targeting Dharmasthala authorities.
What’s the controversy?
Sameer MD had previously uploaded a video discussing the Soujanya case, which led to a court-issued injunction — forbidding him from publishing further content on the matter. Despite this, he released a second video, prompting legal action from Dharmasthala representatives.
Who filed the case?
Dharmasthala’s D. Harshendra Kumar and Nischal D. Hooda have jointly filed the defamation case, demanding ₹10 crore in damages. The civil court in Bengaluru, presided by Judge S. Nataraj, has issued a legal notice to Sameer MD and ordered the immediate removal of the video.
Why does this matter?
The Soujanya case is deeply sensitive — the 17-year-old student’s mysterious death in 2012 led to widespread protests and allegations of a cover-up. Few know that over the past decade, more than 50 RTI applications have been filed by activists trying to access investigation details — most of which were denied citing “security and religious sensitivity.”
This case against Sameer MD is now being seen as a major test of digital freedom vs. judicial restraint.