High Court
Delhi HC rejects Naveen Jindal’s plea to restrain Zee News from airing coverage about him
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today refused to grant MP and industrialist Naveen Jindal’s plea for a blanket order restraining Zee Media channels from airing news reports which he alleged were defamatory in the content.
The Court however directed Zee News to obtain and air the views of Jindal and/or his companies while televising any programme pertaining to them.
The Court said that Jindal and his company Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) had not been able to satisfy that they had got a prima facie good case and disposed of their plea.
The Court acknowledged and upheld the right of news channels observing that Zee Media news channels are free to air news reports pertaining to the Congress MP or his companies during the 16th Lok Sabha Election in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA).
Jindal had filed a case against Zee Media Corporation alleging defamation and seeking injunction against Zee News from publishing / airing or telecasting on its channels or website any news report which may be vindictive or defamatory to his reputation or that may be relating to his election campaign. The Court, after hearing the parties, declined the injunction as sought by Jindal.
The Court held that when Jindal, holder of a public office and aspiring to become a member of an elected body is amidst the din of electioneering, all kinds of accusations and counter accusations are bound to flash thick and fast in all directions of which a person must not complain unless and until the allegations against him are per se defamatory.
The Court has come to the conclusion that Jindal is not entitled for any injunction and the televised reporting by Zee News are not defamatory. After going through each and every allegations and comments made by Zee News channel in its news reports pertaining to Jindal, the Court held that the same cannot be said to be defamatory.
The Court has further held that to restrain the defendant – Zee News – from pre-telecasting the programme or the news article or the reporting at this stage would not only be a gagging right to freedom of press but also gagging of the public to know about a candidate who is sought to be elected by the electorate.
High Court
Bombay HC likely to protect Kartik Aaryan’s personality rights
Actor seeks Rs 15 crore damages over AI misuse, deepfakes and merch
MUMBAI: In an age where faces can be faked and voices cloned, even stardom needs legal armour. The Bombay High Court has indicated it will pass an order safeguarding the personality and publicity rights of Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan, following allegations of widespread digital misuse of his identity.
The matter, heard by Justice Sharmila U. Deshmukh, centres on a plea filed by Aaryan seeking a broad John Doe injunction against 16 defendants, including e-commerce platforms, social media intermediaries and unidentified entities. The court noted the concerns raised and said appropriate orders would be issued.
At the heart of the case lies the growing threat of artificial intelligence-driven impersonation. Aaryan’s petition flags multiple instances of deepfake content circulating across platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, where his likeness has allegedly been used to create fabricated videos, including false romantic link-ups and objectionable scenarios designed to drive engagement.
In one particularly alarming example, the actor’s legal filing cites AI-generated visuals that falsely associate him with controversial global figures, including Jeffrey Epstein. The plea argues that such content not only misleads audiences but also causes serious reputational damage.
The concerns extend beyond content to commerce. The suit alleges that unauthorised merchandise bearing Aaryan’s name and image is being sold across platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart and Redbubble, without his consent. Additionally, the actor has raised red flags over AI-powered chatbots that mimic his voice and simulate conversations, warning of potential misuse in fraudulent activities.
Aaryan’s filing underscores that he is the registered proprietor of the trademark “Kartik Aaryan”, with his name, voice and likeness carrying significant commercial value. The unauthorised use of these attributes, the plea states, leads to “immediate and irreparable harm” to his goodwill.
Seeking both preventive and punitive relief, the actor has requested a permanent injunction restraining entities from exploiting his identity in any form be it name, voice, signature or distinctive dialogue style. He has also sought damages amounting to Rs 15 crore for alleged commercial misappropriation and reputational loss.
The case highlights a larger legal and cultural moment, where the lines between reality and replication are increasingly blurred. As AI tools become more accessible, courts are now being called upon to define the boundaries of identity in the digital age, where a face may be famous, but control over it is no longer guaranteed.
