Delhi High Court to hear plea over alleged deepfake image linked to CJP protest

The Delhi High Court has agreed to urgently hear a criminal writ petition requesting the removal, blocking and takedown of an allegedly morphed or deepfake image of a woman shown alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The image was reportedly displayed during a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar and later circulated on social media.

The petition names Saurav Das, Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh as respondents, and seeks directions for social media platforms and other online services to remove and block the alleged deepfake and any explicit material.

The court was informed that a first information report (FIR) has already been registered at the Cyber Police Station in New Delhi on September 24, 2026. The FIR invokes provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The petitioner has additionally requested police protection to ensure her life and physical safety. The plea asks authorities and Meta Platforms to trace, block and remove the image from social media networks, pornographic websites, mirror domains and any other platforms where it has been uploaded.

It also calls for an expedited investigation into the FIR, including tracing the digital footprint, securing electronic evidence, identifying others involved in uploading or circulating the material, and filing periodic status reports before the High Court.

According to the petition, the woman alleges that her photograph was used without consent and digitally altered using artificial intelligence face-swapping technology to create an objectionable image of her alongside the Prime Minister. She further claims banners featuring the image were displayed at the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar, with video footage subsequently shared on social media.

Following the circulation of the material, the petitioner reports receiving threatening and abusive messages, prompting her to seek protection from authorities. These are allegations presented in the petition and have not been adjudicated by the High Court.

The petition is

This case arises amid several ongoing legal proceedings related to CJP protests at Jantar Mantar. The Delhi High Court has recently heard other matters involving CJP members, including a defamation suit by senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia against CJP leaders over an alleged AI-generated post.

The Supreme Court is also hearing proceedings linked to the July CJP protests and has ordered protection for a 14-year-old protestor and her family following allegations of harassment and threats.

TNM (With ANI Inputs)

This story is written by TNM Bureau with inputs from ANI. The News Mill is a Guwahati-based digital media with focus on content from across Northeast India and beyond. We can be reached through [email protected]