Regulators
DoT & SEBI sign MoU to curb telecom-linked financial frauds
Data-sharing pact aims early detection of scams, tighter investor protection
MUMBAI: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen coordination in tackling telecom-linked financial frauds and investment scams.
The agreement sets up a structured data-sharing framework between the two regulators, aimed at enabling early detection and disruption of fraudulent activities in the securities market. The MoU was signed by Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, deputy director general at DoT’s AI and digital intelligence unit, and Sandip Pradhan, whole-time member at SEBI, in the presence of Deb Kumar Chakrabarti, member (services), digital communications commission.
At the core of the partnership is the sharing of key intelligence inputs. DoT will provide SEBI with the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, designed to flag mobile numbers linked to suspicious activity through multi-layered analysis. It will also share the Mobile Number Revocation List, enabling SEBI-regulated entities such as brokers and asset management firms to ensure that investor accounts are linked only to valid and active mobile connections.
In return, SEBI will share information on telecom resources associated with fraudulent trading accounts, impersonation cases and money mule networks, allowing DoT to take faster action on the telecom side.
The collaboration will be powered by DoT’s digital intelligence platform, which connects over 1,400 stakeholders and supports real-time exchange of actionable data across institutions.
The move comes at a time when India’s digital investment ecosystem is expanding rapidly, bringing with it a rise in sophisticated fraud attempts. By integrating telecom intelligence with market surveillance, the regulators aim to shift from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention.
DoT’s existing initiatives under the Sanchar Saathi programme have already led to the disconnection of over 88 lakh fraudulent mobile connections, while the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator has helped prevent losses of around Rs 2,300 crore in the past ten months.
With this pact, both regulators are looking to build a more coordinated and future-ready framework, tightening safeguards and boosting investor confidence in an increasingly digital financial landscape.
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.
