Supreme Court suspends YouTuber's contempt sentence in Delhi High Court case

India's Supreme Court on Thursday suspended the six-month jail sentence imposed on YouTuber Gulshan Pahuja by the Delhi High Court for contempt of court over videos criticizing judges. The bench ordered his immediate release from custody while issuing notice on his appeal. The Delhi High Court had found Pahuja guilty of criminal contempt in May, noting he showed no regret and made further scandalous remarks during sentencing, including saying he expected no justice from Indian courts and likening judicial arbitrariness to dictatorship. The High Court imposed the maximum punishment of six months' simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 2,000 per case, with sentences running concurrently. The High Court had previously suspended the sentence for 60 days under the Contempt of Courts Act after Pahuja indicated he would challenge the ruling. The Supreme Court's bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu heard his appeal and ordered his release pending further proceedings.