The Delhi High Court on Tuesday, 4 August 2025, directed Meta Platforms Inc. to remove two allegedly AI-generated videos from Facebook and Instagram within 36 hours, after former Union Minister and five-time Lok Sabha MP Saleem Iqbal Shervani filed a suit claiming the fabricated content falsely depicted him as an associate of deceased gangster Atiq Ahmed. The interim order was passed by a single-judge Bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela.

What the Court Ordered

Justice Gedela directed Meta to take down the specific video URLs within 36 hours and restrained Defendant No. 2 and Defendant No. 3 from publishing or republishing the videos until further orders. The court also permitted Shervani to approach Meta directly if the same videos are re-uploaded by any other person or entity.

'It appears appropriate to direct Defendant No.1 to take down the following URLs… in 36 hours. Defendants 2 and 3 are restrained from republishing or publishing the videos until further orders,' the court stated in its interim order.

What the Videos Allegedly Showed

According to the plaint, the two videos were published on 13 July by a self-described journalist operating the 'Jan Chaupal Post' social media accounts. Shervani, 73, alleged the content was entirely AI-generated — artificially recreating his face, voice, dialogues, and scenes — to falsely portray him as a factory owner who sought Atiq Ahmed's help to violently suppress a workers' strike and later assisted the gangster in consolidating criminal influence in Allahabad (now Prayagraj).

The suit stated that 'not one of the events shown in the impugned videos ever took place' and asserted that across a public life spanning more than four decades, Shervani 'never had any association whatsoever with Atiq Ahmed or with any criminal.'

Communal Angle and Platform Inaction Alleged

The former minister also alleged that the videos deliberately sought to inflame communal sentiments by introducing fictional characters identified with different religious communities and depicting violence between them for sensationalism and online engagement. The plaint further alleged that despite legal notices being served, the videos remained accessible on Meta's platforms, with the company failing to act on the notifications.

Defendants Named and Relief Sought

The suit named Meta Platforms Inc. as Defendant No. 1; Rahul Mishra, who allegedly operates the 'Jan Chaupal Post' accounts, as Defendant No. 2; Ranjeet Singh, who allegedly republished the videos, as Defendant No. 3; and unknown entities as John Doe defendants. Shervani has sought disclosure of the Basic Subscriber Information of the accounts involved, an unconditional public apology, and damages of ₹2.01 crore against the alleged creators and republishers.

Shervani was represented by Advocates J Amal Anand, Abhishek Singh, KV Vibu Prasad, Elvin Joshy, Shivani Kalra, and Akshat Mishra. The matter is expected to be heard again for further directions as the court's interim order remains in force.