Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. File.
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Delhi High Court on Friday (November 6, 2026) directed the removal of several social media posts and videos by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) allegedly depicting Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in a defamatory and demeaning manner through AI-generated images and deepfake videos.
Justice Manoj Jain observed that the “offensive portrayal of the Chief Minister, with the assistance of AI-generated videos, hurting her very dignity can be, by no stretch of imagination, said to be in the realm of permissible political satire”.
The order was passed in a defamation suit filed by Ms. Gupta against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), seeking a to restrain them from publishing, circulating or disseminating allegedly defamatory AI-generated content.
According to the plea, several AI-generated videos, images and posters published through AAP’s official and verified social media accounts portrayed Ms. Gupta as a liquor vendor, hawker and delivery agent, besides depicting her as the head of a fictitious ‘Har Har Rekha or Ghar Ghar Theka Yojana’.
The CM, in her plea, said that the content created a misleading impression of her involvement in selling and serving liquor. One video allegedly showed her serving drinks to men at night, while another featured AI-generated depictions of both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister pouring liquor and ice cubes.
“The video-images look so real and near-perfect imitation,” the plea said.
The Court noted that one of the videos, posted on X on November 4, had reportedly garnered around 75,000 views, 1,600 likes and 470 reposts when its screenshot was captured.
Emphasising the distinction between political criticism and personal attacks, Justice Jain observed, “Healthy criticism and satirical humor may not raise any eyebrows but AI-generated videos and the posts in question have clearly breached the dividing line as the contents are not only defamatory and offensive but also attack the dignity of a woman, having constitutional authority”.
“Satire may though hurt conscience of any individual but it cannot be permitted to create irreparable wound on someone’s dignity. In the garb of freedom of speech and expression and under the disguise of humour and satire, no one can be permitted to be reduced to an object of ridicule and insult,” the court said.
It further noted that while holding public office invites greater scrutiny, an individual’s dignity cannot be compromised.
Referring to earlier decisions, including the Raghav Chadha case, the Court observed that until appropriate legislation regulates AI-generated content, courts have a duty to examine whether its use infringes an individual’s right to dignity.
The court also issued notices to all defendants, including AAP, while posting the case for further hearing on December 4.
Published – November 07, 2026 06:48 am IST
