In 2018 Dhruv Rathee published and circulated a video titled BJP IT Cell Part II. The video contained allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT cell had attempted to bribe Vikas Sankrityayan, a social‑media activist. According to the complaint, the statements made in the video were false and defamatory, and they caused harm to Sankrityayan’s reputation. The video became the focal point of a legal dispute that would linger for years.
Vikas Sankrityayan filed a criminal defamation case against Dhruv Rathee in 2018 over the video. The complaint asserted that the video included false and defamatory statements about him and that it had damaged his reputation. The case was registered in a Delhi court, initiating a legal process that required Rathee to respond to the allegations presented by Sankrityayan.
BIG BREAKING 🚨 DHRUV RATHEE in MASSIVE TROUBLE !! Delhi court issues bailable warrants against Dhruv Rathee in 2018 defamation case. https://t.co/DH6hPqBmQ4
After the case was filed, the court attempted to bring Rathee into the legal process by issuing notices and summons. These early attempts to serve notice on Rathee were unsuccessful, meaning the court could not secure his appearance through the usual procedural steps. The failure to serve notice prompted the court to consider alternative measures to ensure the case could proceed.
The failure to serve notice prompted the court to consider alternative measures to ensure the case could proceed.
On October 18, 2026, the court issued a fresh summons to Dhruv Rathee. This new summons was part of the court’s renewed effort to bring Rathee before it after the earlier attempts had failed. The issuance of the fresh summons marked a specific procedural step taken on that date.
Delhi court issues bailable warrant against YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in 2018 defamation case involving BJP IT Cell founder Vikas Pandey. https://t.co/XXBIxjvObf https://t.co/gZ15MROkey
Also on October 18, 2026, following the fresh summons and the continued inability to secure Rathee’s presence, the Delhi court issued a bailable warrant against him. A bailable warrant allows the accused to be arrested but also provides the option to obtain bail, reflecting the court’s assessment that stronger compulsion was needed while still recognizing the possibility of release on bail.
The court fixed the next hearing in the case for October 31. This date was set after the warrant was issued, indicating that the proceedings will continue with Rathee’s obligation to appear before the court on that day, either voluntarily or under the authority of the warrant.
Delhi Court Issues Bailable Warrant against Dhruv Rathee https://t.co/iuDMK1JRTC
As of the warrant’s issuance on October 18, 2026, Dhruv Rathee is currently in India and faces a bailable warrant in the defamation case brought by Vikas Sankrityayan. The legal dispute, which originated from a 2018 video alleging bribery attempts by the BJP’s IT cell, is scheduled for further hearing on October 31, when the court will consider the next steps in the matter.
