Kumar Sanu seeks Delhi High Court protection against AI voice cloning
Veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu filed a petition in Delhi High Court seeking protection against unauthorised AI cloning of his voice and image on digital platforms. He alleges that third parties have created AI-generated voice models, deepfakes, and other content imitating his performances without consent and generating revenue through platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
What happened
Veteran playback singer Kumar Sanu filed a petition in Delhi High Court on October 11, 2025, seeking protection against unauthorised use of his voice, image, and artistic style through artificial intelligence and social media content. The plea is to be heard by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora on October 13.
Sanu alleges that digital platforms and content creators have used AI-generated voice models, memes, GIFs, and videos imitating or distorting his performances without consent. He claims such content generates revenue for creators and social media platforms including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram while misleading audiences and harming his reputation.
Reported impact
Sanu alleges the unauthorised use of his voice and likeness amounts to false endorsement and violates his moral and performance rights under the Copyright Act. He claims the content creates confusion, brings disrepute to him, and subjects him to unsavoury humour.
The singer sought a court injunction to prevent further misuse or cloning of his identity in digital media and to restrain third parties from commercially exploiting his name, voice, vocal style, or likeness without consent.
Index analysis
The case has been described as one of the first high-profile cases in India highlighting the legal and ethical challenges of AI-generated celebrity content. The petition seeks protection of personality and publicity rights including name, voice, vocal style, technique, vocal arrangements, interpretations, mannerism, images, photographs, likeness, and signature.
Governance controls
Sanu's petition invokes moral rights in performances conferred under the Copyright Act. The plea also references unauthorised commercial exploitation and creation of confusion or deception among the public as violations of personality and publicity rights.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.