New Delhi, March 30 (NationPress) The Delhi High Court delivered an interim ruling on Monday in favor of spiritual figure and kathavachak Aniruddhacharya Maharaj, granting him relief in a petition aimed at safeguarding his personality rights. The court mandated the removal of specific videos and links he identified from various online platforms, including YouTube.

A single-judge Bench, presided over by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, issued this interim order after considering arguments that the petitioner’s name, image, and videos were being exploited on social media and other online platforms, notably through AI-generated content that misrepresented his statements.

During the proceedings, counsel representing Aniruddhacharya argued that the misleading content was harming his credibility and public image, falsely implying that he had made those controversial remarks.

Justice Gedela expressed concerns about the propriety of the case being heard in the Delhi High Court, highlighting that the petitioner resides in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. He noted that online content can be accessed worldwide and questioned the necessity of bringing such matters to this court when other jurisdictions, such as Allahabad, Lucknow, and Kolkata, are equally qualified to make binding decisions.

The judge remarked, "Content on the internet is viewable from anywhere, crossing geographical lines. Why should this court be the go-to for every instance like this?" He also emphasized that religious leaders should ideally rise above concerns of public perception.

Justice Gedela stated, "As a religious guru, you should ideally be unaffected by issues of recognition or criticism. If you are too concerned about these matters, it may contradict the very teachings you uphold." However, the petitioner’s legal representative insisted that the nature of the online content could significantly undermine the respect afforded to him.

In response, Google's counsel indicated that any misleading or AI-altered content could be removed per their policies. Nonetheless, it was acknowledged that some of the flagged links lead to fan pages or videos featuring the petitioner’s previous statements, where users have raised criticisms, particularly regarding his comments on women and science.

After acknowledging these submissions, the Delhi High Court instructed the removal of the specific URLs and videos highlighted by the petitioner, with a comprehensive order to follow. The case is scheduled for a follow-up hearing on September 23.