Delhi High Court Orders Meta to Remove Woman's Morphed Images, Issues Notices to CJP Leaders

Court's Directive to Meta and Protection Order

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed Meta to remove objectionable photographs and links concerning a woman from its platforms within 24 hours, responding to allegations that her image was manipulated using artificial intelligence and face-swapping technology and circulated without her consent during protests at Jantar Mantar. According to the complaint, the altered image was made to appear alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was displayed on banners and posters at the protest before being shared on social media, including Instagram. Justice Girish Kathpalia, presiding over the matter, observed that the case carried implications beyond the individual complaint because it involved an image concerning the Prime Minister. The court also ordered police protection for the woman and sought a status report from Delhi Police within two weeks.

Notices to CJP Leaders

The court issued notices to four leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party — Saurav Das, Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ratna Singh — in connection with the matter. The notices followed a First Information Report registered by Delhi Police against unidentified persons after the woman approached authorities over the alleged circulation of the manipulated image. According to the report, the FIR does not list the four CJP leaders as accused, though a separate complaint had been filed against CJP leaders including Dipke and Das. The court has sought a response from the parties concerned.

Background of the Protest

The case is linked to protests led by the CJP that began at Jantar Mantar on June 20 and continued for more than a month. The agitation included a march towards Parliament and concluded on July 25. The manipulated photograph at the center of the dispute was allegedly displayed during these demonstrations before spreading through social media platforms.

Next Steps in the Case

The Delhi High Court has set a two-week timeline for Delhi Police to file a status report on the investigation. Meta must complete the removal of objectionable content within 24 hours of the order. Responses from the four CJP leaders who received court notices are pending.

Follow-Up Signals

Delhi Police is required to submit a status report within two weeks, and the court awaits responses from the four CJP leaders who were issued notices in connection with the matter.

Keywords

Delhi High Court, Meta, CJP leaders, morphed images, Jantar Mantar protest, Prime Minister image