High Court
HC grants partial reprieve to Go 92.5 FM
MUMBAI: Reprieve has come hours before the last date for payment of license fees by private FM stations falls due on Friday.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday has stayed the encashment of the bank guarantee of Go 92.5, a Mid-day enterprise till 14 June 2004. It has however directed the radio station to pay up 50 per cent of the license fees within 14 days of the court order, says station head Sharique Patel.
For Go, the half amount of the license fee amounts to just over Rs 10 million, as the station is being billed for two months, as it had given notice of operations till 28 June.
The Entertainment Network promoted Radio Mirchi, which had filed a similar petition two weeks ago, was turned down last week, but was supposed to come up for hearing today, the results of which are awaited.
Meanwhile, the Sun Network promoted Suryan FM, got the encashment of the bank guarantee stayed by the Madras High Court on Wednesday. The high court, while granting an interim stay, observed that since the matter of licence fee is pending with the central government for a final decision, an interim stay is granted barring the government from encashing the bank guarantee in case Suryan FM did not pay the fee.
The last date for payment of the license fees by the private players was 29 April, following which a grace period of seven days was allowed. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s recommendations that the fees be deferred was referred by the information and broadcasting ministry to the finance ministry, which refused to comment on the matter.
The I&B ministry, which referred the matter on Wednesday to the Election Commission, was told that deferment of the fees would amount to a breach of the election code of conduct.
The Bombay high court judgment today has come as a breather to the radio stations, although each is awaiting an individual verdict in the courts.
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.
