High Court
HC terms Care World TV ‘ban’ as illegal
MUMBAI: The vigilant and democratic courts in India seem to be favouring justice more than regulation. The government apparently has been passing regulatory orders without studying the respective issues well and not doing sufficient homework before pleading their case/s. The Bombay High Court has termed as illegal the order of ministry of information and broadcasting imposing a week-long ban on Care World TV channel.
Terming the order of the union government to prohibit transmission or retransmission of Care World TV channel for a week “completely illegal”, and a breach of elementary principles of natural justice, the court granted interim relief to Care World TV, stating that, till the disposal of the matter, no steps will be taken to implement the ban order. Justice A S Oka observed that, the larger issue of the power of the government of India of prohibiting the telecast of the TV channel, was, prima facie, illegal.
The court held that the wider issue of power of the government to pass such a stern order would have to be looked into.
The directions came recently while a bench of Justices Anuja Prabhudessai and A S Oka was hearing a plea filed by Seven Star Satellite Private that runs the channel. The channel had challenged the 2-November order of the ministry that ordered it to go completely off-air between 9 & 16 November.
The order had stated that its inter-ministerial committee found that the channel had violated the programme code prescribed by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act by showing “adult content”. The hearing after the issuance of show-cause notice was given by the IMC but the order was signed by the ministry director.
The lawyer representing the channel said the order recorded that the competent authority had decided to impose the penalty. The show-cause notice dated 26 June, 2015, however, was issued by the director while only the ministry had the powers to issue the order. He added that the show was pulled off-air on 4 November when the ban order was received.
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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.
