High Court
High Court adjourns Shah bail plea hearing
The Bombay High Court on Monday adjourned Bollywood financier and co-promoter of B4U Bharat Shah’s bail plea till Tuesday as the defence arguments remained incomplete. However, the court gave permission for the release of his film “Chori Chori Chupke Chupke” on the condition that the rights of the film would remain with the government, Chalo Mumbai reported.
Shah had filed his bail plea in the High Court after his bail was rejected in the special court. The case was brought before Justice SS Parkar and Advocate Ashok Desai appeared on Shah’s behalf. Shah was arrested on 8 January under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for his alleged links with underworld don Chhota Shakeel.
Meanwhile, “Chori Chori” producer Nasim Rizvi and Shah have both made counter claims on the seized negatives of the movie while the prosecution has urged the the appointment of a court receiver to release the film and deposit the proceeds in the treasury, according to Press Trust of India.
Public prosecutor Rohini Salian, speaking on the plea made by Shah for the release of the film’s negatives, informed a special court that the film producer and accused Rizvi had claimed during interrogation his right over the release of the controversial movie.
Both Shah and Rizvi are being tried under MCOCA for their alleged nexus with the underworld. In the circumstances, it would not be proper to release the film’s negatives to either of them, Salian said.
The prosecutor has suggested that in the interest of justice, the court may give its ruling on the rights of the film after the conclusion of the trial so that no prejudice is caused to any of the accused. Till then, she said the film’s negatives should not be released to anyone.
Shah’s counsel urged for time till January 17 to file his submissions on the prosecution’s prayer for appointment of court receiver. Accordingly, designated judge AP Bhangale has adjourned the matter until then.
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.
