Akshay Kumar's 500 Crore Defamation Case: How a Youtuber Spurred a Legal Battle
Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has filed a Rs 500-crore defamation suit against a YouTuber named Rashid Siddiqui, who spread false information about him during the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Siddiqui, a 25-year-old civil engineer from Bihar, posted fake news on his YouTube channel, 'FF News', earning around Rs 15 lakh in four months.
Fake News and Financial Gain
During the period when Sushant Singh Rajput's death was mourned, a YouTuber named Rashid Siddiqui from Bihar spread fake news for financial gain. In his YouTube videos, he accused Akshay Kumar of helping the accused Rhea Chakraborty escape to Canada and alleged that Akshay had secret talks with Uddhav and Aditya Thakre about Sushant's death. Siddiqui also claimed that Akshay was unhappy with Sushant's success in the film 'M S Dhoni: The Untold Story'.
The Legal Battle
Akshay Kumar reacted strongly to the false claims by serving a Rs 500-crore defamation notice to Rashid Siddiqui. Siddiqui was previously arrested for spreading false news and dragging the names of Maharashtra's Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son, Minister Aditya Thackeray, into the case. When authorities received reports of fake news, a case was filed against Siddiqui for causing public distress and misleading the public.
The Financial Aspect and Legal Consequences
Rashid Siddiqui was a 25-year-old civil engineer who unexpectedly landed in the spotlight by making and posting such inflammatory content. His YouTube channel, 'FF News', posted fake news about several celebrities, attracting a significant amount of traffic and earning him Rs 15 lakh in four months. Interestingly, his earnings varied significantly, with Rs 296 in May and Rs 650,898 in September.
The Broader Context: Misinformation and Defamation
During the Sushant Singh Rajput case, misinformation and defamation were rampant. An estimated 80,000 fake accounts were created to trend topics related to the case. Various news channels and YouTubers spread fake theories, with many Bollywood celebrities, including Akshay Kumar, facing similar false accusations. Additionally, messages with foul language against Bollywood were already being addressed by the Delhi High Court, issuing warnings about using defamatory language against celebrities.
The Aftermath and Lessons Learned
The incident with Rashid Siddiqui serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of misinformation and the importance of responsible content creation in the digital age. The legal battle has also highlighted the need for greater accountability and regulation in the world of social media and online content.
Conclusion
In the digital age, the spread of misinformation can have serious legal and financial consequences, as seen in Akshay Kumar's Rs 500-crore defamation suit against Rashid Siddiqui. This case underscores the need for vigilant and ethical practices in content creation and the legal actions that can be taken to address such issues.