New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): In a major victory for BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted him significant interim relief by directing the removal of social media posts that allegedly defamed him with claims that he had “sold himself for money.”
Justice Subramonium Prasad passed the order on Chadha’s plea seeking urgent protection against the circulation of defamatory and AI-manipulated content online. While the detailed reasoning is awaited, the Court’s directive marks a clear acknowledgement of Chadha’s concerns over reputational harm.
Chadha had approached the High Court alleging that certain posts falsely suggested he had switched political allegiance for monetary gain. His counsel, Senior Advocate Rajiv Nayar, argued that the content went far beyond fair political criticism, amounting instead to malicious attacks on his character.
The Court agreed that the material crossed the line between legitimate criticism and defamation, ordering its removal. However, it clarified that the proceedings did not involve personality rights, a point that will be elaborated in the detailed order once uploaded.
Chadha’s suit also highlights the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes and manipulated visuals, which he claims were used to mislead the public and damage his reputation. The interim relief granted today is seen as a strong step in curbing such misuse of technology.
The full order, including the Court’s reasoning and scope of directions to social media platforms, is awaited.
The case is among a growing number of matters before the Delhi High Court concerning the legal implications of artificial intelligence and the unauthorised use of the identities of public figures. The Court has, in previous cases, granted protection against the misuse of the names, voices and likenesses of celebrities through AI-generated and digitally manipulated content. (ANI)
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