The court held that AI-generated videos falsely depicting a public figure as being associated with criminals are defamatory, justifying an ad-interim injunction to remove the content from social media platforms to prevent irreparable reputational harm.

O R D E R

1. This is a suit instituted by the plaintiff seeking the following prayers:

“i. Pass a decree of permanent and mandatory injunction directing Defendant No.1 to permanently remove, delete and disable access to the Impugned Videos and the 56 impugned content available at the following URLs, and to prevent their re-upload or mirroring on its platforms:

a) https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1K7z42bGQv/

b) https://www.instagram.com/p/DarNomND7vr/

c) https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1M1SXJqPFU/

d) https://www.instagram.com/p/Dats6XViAYH/

e) https://www.facebook.com/reel/1545549994256265

f) https://www.facebook.com/reel/27853081137693395,

ii. Pass a decree of permanent and mandatory injunction directing Defendant No.1 to remove, suspend, block and disable access to all videos, reels, posts and content which are identical or similar to the Impugned Videos, or which otherwise refer to, name, depict or concern the Plaintiff in connection with the impugned fabricated story, whether on its own accord or upon intimation of any such content by the Plaintiff;

iii. Pass a decree of permanent and mandatory injunction directing Defendant No.2 to permanently delete and take down the First Impugned Video, presently available at URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1K7z42bGQv/ and at URL: https://www.instagram.com/p/DarNomND7vr/, and from any other online platform, page, group, account or medium where the same or similar content has been published;

iv. Pass a decree of permanent and mandatory injunction directing Defendant No.2 to permanently delete and take down the Second Impugned Video, presently available at URL: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1M1SXJqPFU/ and at URL: https://www.instagram.com/p/Dats6XViAYH/, and from any other online platform, page, group, account or medium where the same or similar content has been published;

v. Pass a decree of permanent injunction restraining Defendant No.2, his agents, servants, assigns and all others acting for and on his behalf, from making, publishing, uploading, broadcasting or circulating the Impugned Videos, or any video, image, reel, post or content of a similar nature that refers to, names, depicts or concerns the Plaintiff, anywhere on the internet or in print or electronic media;

vi. Pass a decree directing Defendant No.2 to tender a full, unconditional and prominent public apology to the Plaintiff on the “Jan Chaupal Post” Facebook and Instagram pages and on all associated social media accounts, together with a clear and prominent clarification that the entire story depicted in the Impugned Videos is false and fabricated;

vii. Pass a decree of permanent and mandatory injunction directing Defendant No.3 to permanently delete and take down the republications of the Impugned Videos made on his Facebook account “Ranjeet Singh”, at URL: https://www.facebook.com/reel/ 1545549994256265 and at URL: 58 https://www.facebook.com/reel/27853081137693395, and restraining Defendant No.3 from publishing or circulating the Impugned Videos or any similar content that refers to, names, depicts or concerns the Plaintiff;

viii. Pass a decree of permanent and mandatory injunction directing Defendant No.4 to remove and delete any post, video, reel or content which is identical or similar to the Impugned Videos available at the URLs set out in Prayer (i) above;

ix. Pass a decree awarding damages to the tune of Rs. 2,01,00,000/- (Rupees Two Crores and One Lakh only) in favour of the Plaintiff and against the Defendant Nos.2 and 3, jointly and severally;

x. Award costs of the present Suit in favour of the Plaintiff and against the Defendants.”

2. Let the plaint be registered as a suit.

3. Upon filing of the process fee, issue summons of the suit to the defendants through all permissible modes.

4. The summons shall state that the Written Statement shall be filed by the defendants within 30 days from the date of the receipt of summons. Alongwith the Written Statement, the defendants shall also file Affidavit