Delhi HC grants Aman Gupta interim relief in personality rights suit
Synopsis
The Delhi High Court's sweeping ex parte order protecting Aman Gupta's personality rights — covering AI deepfakes, pornographic content, fake event listings, and chatbot impersonation — marks one of India's most comprehensive judicial interventions against digital identity misuse targeting a public figure.
Key Takeaways
Delhi High Court granted an ex parte ad interim injunction on 10 May protecting Aman Gupta's personality rights.
Defendants restrained from exploiting Gupta's name, voice, image, and registered trademarks including slogans "Hum Bhi Bana Lenge" and "Down, but not out" .
Court flagged AI-generated deepfake pornographic content as requiring immediate judicial intervention .
Google LLC and other platforms directed to remove infringing content and disclose details of impersonating accounts.
Next hearings listed for 3 August (Joint Registrar) and 1 October (Delhi High Court).
The Delhi High Court has granted interim protection to boAt co-founder and Shark Tank India judge Aman Gupta, restraining multiple entities from exploiting his personality rights, trademarks, voice, and image through unauthorised merchandise, AI-generated deepfakes, fake social media accounts, and misleading commercial listings. The ex parte ad interim injunction was passed on 10 May by a single-judge Bench of Justice Tushar Rao Gedela in a commercial suit filed by Gupta against several defendants, including unidentified John Doe entities, after the court observed prima facie infringement of his personality and publicity rights.
What the Court Found
Justice Gedela noted that Gupta has developed a substantial public profile as an entrepreneur, investor, public speaker, and television personality through his association with Shark Tank India over five seasons. The court observed that material placed on record showed widespread misuse of his persona and trademarks across digital platforms.
The order flagged allegations of unauthorised commercial endorsements, fake event booking listings, sale of merchandise bearing his slogans and likeness, AI-based chatbot impersonation, circulation of objectionable and pornographic content, and fake Instagram profiles using his identity.
The court stated:
Point of View
Including deepfake pornography, even before the defendant is heard. India still lacks a dedicated deepfake or personality rights statute, making such judicial interventions the primary recourse for public figures. The ex parte nature of the order reflects the urgency courts are beginning to attach to digital personality rights. The real test now shifts to platforms like Google: their track record on timely content removal will determine whether this order delivers protection in practice or remains largely symbolic.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Delhi High Court order in the Aman Gupta personality rights case?
The Delhi High Court granted an ex parte ad interim injunction restraining multiple entities from exploiting Aman Gupta's name, image, voice, trademarks, and persona without authorisation. The order covers AI deepfakes, fake social media accounts, unauthorised merchandise, and misleading commercial listings.
Why did the court treat the deepfake content as urgent?
Justice Tushar Rao Gedela specifically flagged sexually explicit AI-generated deepfake material using Gupta's identity as requiring immediate judicial intervention, making it one of the first Indian court orders to directly address deepfake pornography targeting a public figure.
Which platforms were directed to act under the order?
Google LLC and other platform-related defendants were directed to remove or block identified infringing content and disclose details of allegedly impersonating accounts named in the complaint. Platforms were also directed to suspend or lock infringing domain names and URLs upon receipt of supporting evidence.
What are Aman Gupta's registered slogans protected under this order?
The order protects Gupta's registered slogans including 'Hum Bhi Bana Lenge' and 'Down, but not out', along with his name, image, likeness, voice, and mannerisms, all of which the court recognised as having substantial commercial goodwill.
When is the next hearing in Aman Gupta's personality rights case?
The matter is listed before the Joint Registrar on 3 August for completion of pleadings, and before the Delhi High Court on 1 October for further proceedings.
