Defendant Platform Assures Restoration and Non-Removal of Videos Pending Court Hearings
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court has intervened to safeguard the digital content of Pushkar Raj Thakur, a prominent YouTuber, whose videos were allegedly taken down unlawfully from a platform operated by Defendant No.2. The court's decision comes amid allegations that malicious entities uploaded Thakur's videos onto various platforms with forged back-dated timestamps, triggering unwarranted copyright strikes.
During the proceedings, held on July 1, 2026, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani presided over the matter, which was expedited following an urgent mention before the Vacation Bench. Representing the plaintiff, Mr. Himanshu Goyal emphasized the need for immediate judicial protection against the removal of Thakur's videos, highlighting the actions of alleged bad actors exploiting copyright mechanisms.
Mr. Varun Pathak, counsel for Defendant No.2, assured the court that the defendant is committed to collaborating with the plaintiff to prevent further unlawful takedowns. Pathak pledged that Thakur's videos would not be removed on the grounds of copyright strikes until the next hearing, and his account would remain active despite repeated strike claims.
Further, Defendant No.2 agreed to restore any deleted videos upon the plaintiff providing the relevant URLs, ensuring the plaintiff's digital presence remains intact. This assurance was formally noted by the court, offering temporary relief to Thakur.
In an additional development, the court accepted the plaintiff's request to remove Defendant No.10, Telegram FZ LLC, from the list of party-defendants. An amended memo of parties is to be submitted within a week, reflecting this change.
The case is scheduled for further hearing on July 17, 2026, with a subsequent date set for August 10, 2026, before the learned Joint Registrar.
The judicial intervention underscores the growing legal complexities surrounding digital content and copyright laws, highlighting the need for platforms to ensure fair practices in content management.
Bottom line:-
Plaintiff's videos unlawfully taken down due to copyright strikes - Defendant No.2 assured court to prevent further wrongful actions, restore deleted videos, and maintain plaintiff's account.
Statutory provision(s): Copyright Protection, Amendment of Parties
Pushkar Raj Thakur v. John Doe/Ashok Kumar, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2941420
