Delhi High Court restrains AI deepfake misuse of Ramdev's persona
Delhi High Court issued an interim order restraining the unauthorized creation and distribution of AI-generated deepfakes and manipulated content depicting yoga guru Ramdev falsely endorsing products and medical treatments across social media and e-commerce platforms. The court found the deepfakes constituted misappropriation of his personality rights and posed risks to his reputation and public health.
What happened
Yoga guru Ramdev filed a commercial suit in Delhi High Court against unidentified entities and digital platforms alleging unauthorized creation and distribution of AI-generated deepfake videos, manipulated photographs, fake social media accounts, and fabricated endorsements across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and e-commerce websites.
Justice Jyoti Singh issued an interim order on February 18, 2026, barring the unauthorized use of Ramdev's name, image, voice, and personality attributes across all formats and platforms, including AI-generated and deepfake content.
Reported impact
The court found that the deepfake videos and unauthorized social media pages falsely portrayed Ramdev as endorsing various products, medicines, and consumer goods, constituting misappropriation and commercial exploitation of his goodwill.
Some content falsely depicted Ramdev endorsing medical advice or health products, which the court noted could damage his reputation and pose risks to public health if individuals relied on misleading claims.
Index analysis
Justice Jyoti Singh observed that Ramdev is a globally recognized figure in yoga and Ayurveda whose identity attributes—including appearance, voice, saffron attire, and distinctive speech style—are uniquely associated with him and legally protectable.
The court noted that through decades of public engagement and institutional work, Ramdev has earned substantial goodwill, reputation, and public trust. The unauthorized content appeared intended to exploit his reputation for commercial gain and online engagement.
Governance controls
The court directed digital platforms to remove content Ramdev objected to within 72 hours of receiving the order.
The court clarified that content covered by exceptions of parody, caricature, and lampooning was not directed to be taken down.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.