MP High Court Seeks Report On Service Of Notices To Newspapers, Social Media Platforms Over OBC Youth Foot-Washing Video

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday (October 31) directed its Registry to clarify whether notices were issued to the newspapers, YouTube channels and other social media platforms that are stated to have published a video and news reports showing an OCB Youth allegedly compelled to wash the feet of another person. 

The division bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Avanindra Kumar Singh directed; 

"Office is requested to furnish clear report as to whether the social media platform and the newspapers have been served or not. If they have not been served, then fresh notices be issued to them seeking their response. List this case after two weeks". 

On October 14, the high court had taken suo motu cognizance over the video allegedly showing a young man from the OBC Community being compelled to wash the feet of another person and consume the said water.

In Friday's hearing, the advocate for the detained persons submitted that they had filed a separate petition against the detention. The court orally remarked that let the replies of the social media platforms and the newspapers, that had reported the incident, come on record, based on which suo-motu cognizance was taken. 

"We will have to understand the report regarding what evidence was with the newspapers and social media to publish such news, upon which cognizance was taken...Let it come on record. Only then we will get to know if you (detained persons) are responsible or not", the bench orally said.

The bench further clarified that the petition filed by the detained accused (WP 41492/2025) will be heard analogously with the suo motu petition. 

The matters are listed after two weeks. 

Case Title: Court in its own motion v Director General of Police & 

Anuj Pandey v/s State of Madhya Pradesh

WP 41264/2025, WP 41492/2025

Click here to read/download the Order