New Delhi, May 29, 2025 — The Delhi High Court has directed YouTuber Mohak Mangal to take down a video published on May 25 that accuses Asian News International (ANI) of extortion and blackmail, ruling that the content is defamatory in nature.
Justice Amit Bansal, presiding over the matter, observed that Mangal’s video contained “uncivilized” and defamatory language and instructed his legal counsel to seek immediate instructions regarding its removal.
“Takedown. Whoever is using this kind of language, take instructions,” the judge remarked during Thursday’s hearing.
Background of the Dispute
The dispute arises from Mangal’s video where he alleged that ANI issued copyright strikes on his YouTube channel for using short video clips owned by the agency. Mangal claimed that ANI demanded over ₹40 lakh as licensing fees to lift the strikes — an action he termed as extortion.
ANI responded by filing a defamation suit against Mangal, arguing that the video was not only defamatory but also infringed on their copyrights and trademarks. The agency claimed that Mangal’s actions were part of a broader campaign to vilify and discredit ANI.
Senior Advocate Amit Sibal, representing ANI, said:
“He starts a media campaign that has spiraled into a concerted effort to malign ANI. They are calling us thugs, extortionists, and using other expletives.”
Sibal further asserted that Mangal profited from unauthorized use of ANI’s content, attracting millions of views and monetizing the videos by including ANI’s registered trademarks.
Court’s Observations
Justice Bansal acknowledged that Mangal may have had a grievance with ANI’s licensing demands, but took issue with the tone and language of the video. He emphasized that objections could have been raised in a more civil manner.
“You want to use videos without taking a license. You use them, but how do you justify making such statements? How is that defensible?” the judge asked.
The Court noted that the videos on their face constituted disparagement, and asked Mangal’s counsel, Senior Advocate Chander Lall, to seek instructions on removing the defamatory portions.
Lall argued that ANI was not following the due process of law and accused the agency of coercive tactics, saying:
“If they have a grievance against me, they can’t call me and extort money threatening to block my channel.”
However, the Court reiterated that even if the copyright infringement claim was disputable, the language used in the video could not be justified.
Other Defendants Named
ANI’s suit also names comedian Kunal Kamra and Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair for allegedly amplifying Mangal’s narrative on social media.
The suit states:
“These defendants have independently published further false, baseless, and malicious statements targeting ANI and its founders. These are devoid of factual or legal foundation and clearly intended to malign ANI’s reputation.”
Reliefs Sought by ANI
ANI is seeking ₹2.10 crore in damages and has requested the following reliefs:
Permanent and mandatory injunction against Mangal to:
- Take down the offending video,
- Cease use of ANI’s trademarks,
- Refrain from publishing or sharing further defamatory content.
- Similar restraining orders against Kamra, Zubair, and others.
Next Hearing
The matter is scheduled to be heard again later today, where Mangal’s legal team is expected to respond with instructions regarding the video takedown.
