YouTuber Amit Kilhor Claps Back at IAS Officer Nagarjun Gowda Over Defamation Threats in DMs, Says, “This Isn’t a Legal Notice—It’s Intimidation”

Recently, an alleged case of using AI for corruption turned into a chapter marked by intimidation, legal notices, and distress. On December 29, 2025, the Congress accused two IAS officers—Khandwa District Collector Rishav Gupta and Panchayat CEO Dr Nagarjun B. Gowda—of allegedly misusing Artificial Intelligence to secure the highly prestigious 6th National Water Conservation Award, which was presented to them by President Droupadi Murmu.

A case of alleged fraud, which initially emerged after an investigation conducted by Dainik Bhaskar and gained traction following a viral video by Madhya Pradesh-based YouTuber Amit Kilhor, has taken a new turn.

Kilhor shared on his social media handles on January 3, 2026, that he had been subjected to intimidation via social media and had received what he described as a bogus defamation notice from IAS officer Nagarjun B. Gowda.

See Also: Sanjiv Chaturvedi’s Battle Against Corruption: 16 Judicial Recusals and Presidential Interventions

The original video posted by Kilhor garnered widespread attention on social media, creating a buzz among netizens and prompting questions about corruption and “ethics in government projects.”

Kilhor shared Instagram messages that he received from Gowda, stating that a legal notice had been sent to him for defamation. Gowda also accused Kilhor of misusing a photograph of him with his spouse, Shrushti Deshmukh, a 2019 UPSC topper.

Kilhor responded to the threat by pointing out that the image was taken from Gowda’s Instagram account and has been widely used to promote Gowda’s book, The Manual on Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude (2024).

“This isn’t a legal notice—it’s intimidation,” said Kilhor in a social media video. He further added that he could register a general diary entry at a nearby police station regarding pressure and harassment. He alleged that Gowda, an IAS officer, was attempting to issue “legally incorrect threats” in order to suppress lawful expression.

See Also: Courtroom Corruption in Mumbai: Clerk Held in ₹15 Lakh Court Bribe; FIR Points to Sessions Judge's Role

He further laid out several grounds on which he could push back against Gowda, who had earlier considered apologising to him on social media. Kilhor also sought support by urging people to share the video and ensure that it reached the appropriate lawyers or political groups.

Many netizens extended their support to Kilhor and referenced earlier controversies involving Gowda. In 2025, Gowda was accused of taking bribes worth ₹10 crore.

RTI activist Anant Jaat had accused the IAS officer of accepting bribes in exchange for reducing a company’s fine from ₹51 crore to ₹4,000. Gowda’s brush with controversy during his tenure in Harda, Madhya Pradesh, sparked public outrage and raised concerns about corruption within the civil services.

Suggested Reading: