The Delhi High Court has restrained the unauthorised use of actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut’s identity, including through AI-generated deepfakes, manipulated videos and fabricated statements attributed to her. Justice Vikas Mahajan passed the ex parte ad-interim injunction on October 8, 2026, in a suit against Meta Platforms Inc. and other defendants.
Ranaut alleged that social media accounts and websites were circulating fabricated statements, morphed images, and sexually explicit AI-generated content falsely depicting her. She also alleged that the material exploited her public persona and could damage her reputation and dignity.
The court directed Meta to remove the identified content and ordered the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to direct internet and telecom service providers to block access to specified infringing websites.
What the court observed: The Delhi High Court held that Ranaut’s public standing gave her proprietary rights over her personality and associated attributes. It observed that her stature “inherently grants her proprietary rights over her personality and associated attributes”, giving her “the exclusive right to use these personality attributes for commercial purposes” and to protect them from unauthorised exploitation by third parties.
The court found that the material listed in Annexure A established a strong prima facie case. It observed that “the balance of convenience is tilted in favour of the plaintiff”. It warned that, without an injunction, “irreparable loss and injury, which may occasion, may not be compensated in monetary terms”. It added that “the apprehension of dent and damage to the image and personality of the plaintiff, prima facie, appears to be real and present”. Accordingly, it granted interim protection against the alleged infringement.
False quotes and sexual deepfakes: The court examined URLs containing what it described as “ex facie obscene, morphed/AI generated, sexually vulgar/pornographic content” depicting Ranaut without her permission. It also referred to Rule 3(1)(b)(ii) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which prohibits intermediaries from hosting, publishing or transmitting obscene or pornographic information.
Separately, the court addressed manipulated audio-visual material and AI-generated content falsely portraying Ranaut as making statements or expressing opinions. It said such content was “inherently deceptive” and capable of misleading ordinary viewers into believing it was genuine.
It added that the misrepresentation became “a more serious concern” when the content used her image and current designation alongside false statements. Regarding two quotes that Ranaut identified as fabricated, the court said they “cannot be permitted to remain available on social media platforms”, also referring to Rule 3(1)(b)(v) of the 2021 Rules.
What was ordered: The court restrained the defendants and also barred the creation or dissemination of deepfakes, manipulated recordings, fabricated speeches, false endorsements and impersonation content.
Meta must remove, restrict access to, and permanently take down the content identified in Annexure A and Document K within 72 hours of receiving a copy of the order from Ranaut. It must file a compliance affidavit within two weeks. MeitY and DoT must issue the blocking directions within the same 72-hour period. They must also file compliance affidavits within two weeks.
The court also permitted Ranaut to notify the defendants of additional infringing URLs, accounts, channels or content discovered later, without requiring her to initiate fresh proceedings.
Why does this matter? MediaNama reviewed links in Annexure A that were still accessible and found an AI-generated video depicting the incident in which Ranaut was slapped at the airport by a CISF constable, and a fabricated quote claiming she said Rahul Gandhi stares at her breasts in Parliament. Another falsely attributed to her a statement that only “virgin cows” qualify as “Gaumata”. The links also included a cartoon with Hindi text referring to the time she was slapped, saying next time Ranaut should be hit with a slipper.
Misattributed quotes about celebrities and public figures are a common ‘meme’ format. However, when such posts attribute statements to a person that they never made, they can also shape public perceptions of that person. This raises questions about when fabricated statements or politically charged satire infringe personality rights, and where courts should draw the line between misrepresentation and protected expression.
Also read:
- Explained: What amicus Gautam Bhatia’s brief asks the Delhi HC to change in personality rights cases
- Celebrities can’t use personality rights to block coverage of wrongdoing: Delhi HC in Janhvi Kapoor case
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