Archive · 11 Oct 2026
YouTube Blocks Bhatia Video in India After Government Complaint
YouTube stopped people in India from watching a video made by Sabeer Bhatia.
The video’s title makes claims about Narendra Modi and Gautam Adani.
YouTube said it received a legal complaint from a government entity.
The company said it restricted the video to follow local laws.
Its notice did not say what law was involved or explain the complaint in detail.
YouTube told Bhatia he could challenge the restriction if he thought it was a mistake.
Bhatia called the block an attempt to silence the truth.
Politician Mahua Moitra shared a version of the video on X. The article does not include a response from the government entity.
YouTube blocked Sabeer Bhatia’s video, “How Modi and Adani Stole India | The Friendship Files,” from viewing in India.
YouTube told Bhatia it acted after receiving a legal complaint from a government entity.
The platform said it removes content when necessary to comply with local laws and offered a form to contest the restriction.
The notice did not identify the legal provisions involved or explain the government entity’s objections.
Mahua Moitra shared a version of the video on X and criticized the block.
- Who
- YouTube restricted a video by Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia; MP Mahua Moitra also shared a version.
- What
- The video was blocked from viewing on YouTube in India after a legal complaint from a government entity.
- Where
- YouTube’s India site; Moitra shared the video on X.
- Why
- YouTube said the restriction followed a legal complaint from a government entity and was made to comply with local laws; the notice gave no further details.
Criticism of the restriction
Platform’s stated explanation
Why the video was blocked
Criticism of the restriction
Bhatia described the restriction as silencing the truth and urged people to support him.
Platform’s stated explanation
YouTube said it restricted the video after a legal complaint from a government entity, to comply with local laws. The notice did not provide the government’s detailed position.
- Restricted video
- “How Modi and Adani Stole India | The Friendship Files”
- Platform
- YouTube blocked the video on its India site.
- Stated basis
- A legal complaint from a government entity.
- Details disclosed
- The notice did not specify the legal provisions or the government entity’s objections.
- Appeal option
- YouTube said Bhatia could submit a form if he believed the restriction was imposed in error.
- Additional sharing
- Mahua Moitra shared a version of the video on X.