08-07-2025
IAS coach faces legal action over ‘defamatory' remark against judiciary
Ajmer: The Judicial Magistrate Court No-2 here has taken cognisance against Vikas Divyakirti, founder and managing director of Drishti IAS coaching institute, for allegedly making defamatory remarks against the judiciary.
The court presided over by Manmohan Chandel Tuesday charged Divyakirti under multiple subsections of Section 356 of the BNS Act 2023. Divyakirti has been directed to appear in person before the court on July 22.
A petition filed in the court refers to controversial statements made by Divyakirti in a YouTube video titled "IAS versus Judge, who is powerful," where he allegedly made inappropriate comments about the process of becoming a high court or a Supreme Court judge.
The complainant, advocate Kamlesh Manowliya, presented social media clips where Divyakirti discussed "jugaad" (informal arrangements) in relation to judicial appointments and the collegium system.
The court was told that in the controversial video, Divyakirti allegedly claimed that files of potential judges could be delayed through govt red tape, even after collegium approval. He also allegedly made controversial comparisons between the powers of district judges and district magistrates, suggesting that judicial power is dependent on police cooperation. The complainant's legal team, including advocates Ashok Singh Rawat, Rajkumar Rawat and Rajesh Bhati, argued that such statements damage the judiciary's image.
