New Delhi, May 29, 2025 — News agency Asian News International (ANI) has filed a defamation suit in the Delhi High Court against popular YouTuber Mohak Mangal, alleging that he made false and damaging claims in a recent video titled “Dear ANI.”
The video, published on Mangal's YouTube channel on May 25, accuses ANI of issuing multiple copyright strikes against his content and then allegedly demanding over ₹40 lakh to have those strikes withdrawn. Mangal claims that the strikes targeted short clips used in his videos for the purposes of commentary and critique — a practice often defended under fair use.
In response, ANI has labeled these allegations as defamatory and misleading. Represented by Advocate Akshit Mago, the agency argues that Mangal's assertions have caused serious reputational harm. The suit seeks a permanent injunction to remove the video, prevent further defamatory content, and stop unauthorized use of ANI's trademark.
Notably, the defamation suit also names comedian Kunal Kamra and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair as co-defendants for sharing Mangal's video on social media, amplifying its reach.
The case brings into focus the growing tensions between independent digital creators and mainstream news agencies, especially around issues of copyright enforcement, fair use, and press accountability in India.
The Delhi High Court is expected to hear the matter today.