Delhi, December 21, 2024 – Abhinav Arora, a 10-year-old spiritual influencer known as ‘Bal Sant’, has initiated legal proceedings against several YouTubers, alleging online harassment and trolling.
Represented by his lawyer, Pankaj Arya, Arora has approached a Delhi court seeking the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) against these individuals. The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 3, 2025.
Legal Proceedings and Allegations
Advocate Pankaj Arya confirmed the ongoing legal process, stating, “The legal proceeding is underway, and the next date of hearing has been scheduled for January 3.”
He elaborated that a group of individuals had initiated a campaign against Abhinav Arora and his promotion of Sanatana Dharma.
“We have approached the court with this matter. We will not spare them, even if we have to take the case to the Supreme Court or the High Court. We have demanded an FIR against these YouTubers,” Arya asserted.
Background of Abhinav Arora
Abhinav Arora, hailing from Delhi, has garnered significant attention as a young spiritual content creator. With nearly a million followers on Instagram, he shares his spiritual journey, expressing devotion to Hindu festivals, scriptures, and gurus.
Recognized as India’s Youngest Spiritual Orator by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Abhinav is affectionately referred to as “Bal Sant” by his followers. He identifies himself as Balram, worshipping Shree Krishna as his younger brother.
Abhinav’s daily routine reflects his deep spiritual commitment. Beginning his day at 3:30 am, he engages in ‘mala jaap’ (reading the rosary) during Brahma muhurta, followed by pooja at home.
His morning rituals also include Tulsi Puja Parikrama and offering “Bhog” to Bal Gopal. Despite his spiritual pursuits, Abhinav attends a school in Delhi.
Initially, his classmates were hesitant to interact with him due to his traditional greetings, but over time, his devotion has earned him respect and admiration.
Previous Threats and Family Concerns
This legal action follows previous incidents where Abhinav and his family faced threats. In October, his family claimed that they received a life threat from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Abhinav’s mother, Jyoti Arora, expressed her concerns, stating, “Efforts are being made to do our social escalation through social media. Abhinav has not done anything due to which we are getting threats…Abhinav has not done anything other than devotion that he has to tolerate so much.”
Online Harassment and Community Support
The young influencer is under significant trolling, from personal attacks to derision for one’s beliefs.
Constrained by online harassment, Abhinav embodies his spiritual content even today, still keeping a tighter humor against criticism, asking, “Iss par kya troll karenge aap?” (What will you troll about this?). His resilience has gained him support from followers and others who admire him for his dedication and poise in the face of adversity.
Implications for Online Conduct
It reflects the anomalies existing against young influencers in the digital age, including online harassment and supportive legal structures associated with this as issues of pressing public concern about the case anticipated by many.
As it progresses, it may set a precedent for how the rest of similar cases would be handled in future, concentrating on protection against cyberbullying, more so for minors, ensuring that content creators can operate within a secured online space.
Anticipation looms over this case among many, seeing how it will change the balance of the relationship that content creators have with audiences on the digital platform, and the importance of responsible online behavior and the potential legal repercussions of cyber harassment.
