Criminal contempt, 'taanashahi' judiciary: Delhi HC sentences YouTuber to 6-month jail term

YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja came under the scanner after he uploaded videos on his YouTube channel, which slammed the judicial system.

Published on: May 20, 2026, 20:02:19 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Delhi high court on Wednesday sentenced a YouTuber to six months in prison over remarks against the judiciary on his platform.

The bench added that Pahuja should "no remorse" for his actions, and stated that his videos were part of public interest advocacy for judicial reforms. (HT Photo/Shruti Kakkar)

YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja came under the scanner after he uploaded videos on his YouTube channel, which slammed the judicial system.

In the videos, Pahuja was seen taking interviews of advocates Shiv Narayan Sharma and Deepak Singh, where during the interview, the advocates allegedly made derogatory remarks. As per the court, the advocates apologised for their remarks and stated that they were not told the interviews will be published online.

Adding to this, the court noted that Pahuja made further remarks against the judicial system, stating that "adaalaton ki manmarzi badhti jaa rahi hai" (the arbitrary actions of the courts are increasing and I am not expecting any justice).

Pahuja was also heard saying, "manmarzi ka dusra arth taanashahi hota hai" (the synonym for arbitrariness is dictatorship). Delhi HC added that these remarks were made during the hearings against him.

The sentencing of the YouTuber comes after the Delhi high court found him of contempt of court. Hearing the matter, a bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja imposed a maximum sentence of six months of imprisonment.

A fine of ₹2,000 was also imposed on the YouTuber.

The bench added that Pahuja should "no remorse" for his actions, and stated that his videos were part of public interest advocacy for judicial reforms.

"In fact, he maintains that what he did was with the intent of improving the judicial system. He, in fact, compounds his contempt by making further scandalous submissions before this court and thus, evidently, he is neither repentant nor deserves any mercy," the bench observed.

The court asked Pahuja to surrender before the registrar general after 60 days if a suspension order is not passed by the Supreme Court. This comes after Pahuja expressed his intention to approach the apex court.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.