Dhruv Rathee, a prominent YouTuber, is facing severe criticism after he deleted a social media post regarding the rape-murder case of a Kolkata doctor and later disclosed the victim's identity in a video. His actions on social media have ignited a public backlash, questioning his sensitivity and understanding of the laws surrounding such cases.
The controversy began when Rathee shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) with the hashtag “Justice For Nirbhaya 2” in reference to the Kolkata doctor’s case. The post was quickly deleted, leading to speculation and criticism from the public. Many accused Rathee of succumbing to pressure from the ruling TMC government in West Bengal, alleging that he removed the post to avoid potential repercussions.
Rathee later clarified his decision to delete the post, explaining that he found the comparison to the Nirbhaya case to be insensitive after receiving feedback from his followers.
«Because some people pointed out that it was insensitive to call (name hidden) as Nirbhaya 2. I thought over it and felt that they were right.»
Despite his attempt to correct the situation, Rathee found himself embroiled in further controversy. In a subsequent post about the incident, he used a hashtag that included the name of the victim. This act sparked widespread criticism, as disclosing the identity of rape victims is not only against the law but also considered highly insensitive.
Prominent figures on social media, including advocate Prashant Umrao, were quick to point out this legal breach.