New Delhi, Dec 2 : Isha Foundation, led by spiritual leader Jaggi Vasudev, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking the removal of allegedly defamatory videos posted by Tamil media outlet Nakkheeran on YouTube and other platforms. The Foundation has also sought ₹3 crore in damages from Nakkheeran and its editor Gopal, citing defamatory content.

Google LLC has been named as a party in the case due to defamatory materials appearing in Google search results and videos hosted on YouTube. Justice Subramonium Prasad issued notices to the defendants and scheduled the case for a hearing in April 2025. Isha Foundation has opted not to seek an interim injunction, allowing the case to proceed to arguments after pleadings and cross-examinations in the registrar courts.

Isha Foundation’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate Rajshekhar Rao and Athena Legal, claims that Nakkheeran published critical content alleging exploitation, coercion, and illegal activities within the Foundation. The Foundation contends that these allegations persist despite a Supreme Court ruling in October 2024, which dismissed a habeas corpus plea filed by a father claiming his adult daughters were “brainwashed” by Isha.

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, noted that both women, aged 42 and 39, had expressed their desire to live at the Yoga Centre willingly, closing the case. However, the Court clarified that this order does not bar ongoing police investigations.

The issue arose after the Madras High Court directed the Tamil Nadu government to disclose details of criminal cases registered against Isha Foundation following similar allegations.