NEW DELHI: The Bombay High Court has directed two YouTubers to remove six videos against Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan, stating they were defamatory in nature. The order was passed on May 8 by Justice Arif Doctor, who also restrained the defendants from uploading any further defamatory content against the minister.Mahajan filed a defamation suit against Anil Thatte and another person, claiming they made false and unsubstantiated allegations against him. The minister sought interim relief to delete six videos from their YouTube channels.Five of the contested videos were published on the YouTube channel “Anil Gaganbhedi Thatte,” operated by YouTuber and journalist Anil Thatte. The sixth video appeared on “Mudda Bharat Ka,” run by Shyam Giri.Mahajan’s counsel Ravi Kadam argued that the videos contained false statements and insinuations regarding the minister’s conduct with a lady IAS officer. The counsel maintained that these statements were completely reckless and defamatory.“The statements made by defendants in the videos as discerned from the transcripts are in my prima facie view per se defamatory,” the High Court stated in its order.The court determined that a case for interim relief was justified after reviewing the videos. It ordered the immediate removal of the six videos from YouTube and prohibited the defendants from posting any additional defamatory content about Mahajan.The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on June 20.