Karnataka High Court Orders Removal of AI Deepfake Content: Dharmasthala Case and IT Rules 2026

The Karnataka High Court on May 14, 2026, directed the state government and police to remove AI-generated deepfake and morphed content targeting Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr. D Veerendra Heggade and his family from all social media platforms, press outlets, and URLs. Justice SR Krishna Kumar passed the order on a petition that documented the circulation of defamatory AI-manipulated content on social media. This order comes at a time when Indian courts are increasingly grappling with the legal challenges posed by deepfake technology, and when the central government has notified new IT Rules specifically targeting AI-generated content with mandatory labelling and a swift three-hour takedown requirement.

What the Karnataka HC Ordered in the Dharmasthala Deepfake Case

The petitioners demonstrated that AI-generated and morphed images and videos depicting Dr. Veerendra Heggade and his family members in fabricated scenarios were being widely circulated on social media platforms. The content was designed to damage the reputation of the Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari, who is a prominent religious and social figure in Karnataka. The Court directed the state police department to identify and remove such content from all social media platforms within one week. The order applies to all platforms where the content has been posted, including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and messaging applications. The police have been directed to take action against the creators and distributors of such content under applicable provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

IT Amendment Rules 2026: Three-Hour Takedown for Deepfakes

The Union Government notified the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2026 on February 10, 2026, which came into force on February 20, 2026. These rules specifically target the rising threat of deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation. The most significant provision is the mandatory three-hour takedown window for deepfake content once a complaint is received by an intermediary. Social media platforms must remove or disable access to reported deepfake content within three hours of receiving a complaint from the affected person or a government authority. The rules also mandate compulsory labelling for all AI-generated content, requiring platforms and users to clearly mark any content that has been created or substantially modified using artificial intelligence tools. Failure to comply with the labelling requirement or the takedown timeline exposes intermediaries to the loss of safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act.

Legal Remedies Available to Deepfake Victims in India

Victims of deepfake content in India have multiple legal avenues for relief. Under criminal law, the creation and distribution of deepfakes can attract prosecution under Section 66C of the IT Act (identity theft), Section 66D (cheating by personation using computer resource), and Section 67 (publishing obscene material electronically). The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 provides additional remedies under Section 356 (defamation) and Section 78 (identity theft). Civil remedies include seeking injunctions from High Courts under Article 226 of the Constitution, as demonstrated in the Dharmasthala case. The emerging concept of personality rights, recognised by several High Courts including the Delhi HC and Bombay HC, provides an additional basis for seeking removal of deepfake content that misuses a person's likeness. Victims can also file complaints directly with social media platforms, which are now legally obligated to act within the three-hour takedown window under the IT Rules 2026.

Pattern of Deepfake Orders Across Indian High Courts

The Karnataka HC order is part of a growing pattern of Indian courts intervening to address deepfake content. The Delhi High Court recently directed the removal of a deepfake video of MP Shashi Tharoor from social media platforms. The Bombay High Court ordered the removal of AI-generated deepfake content involving actress Shilpa Shetty, recognising personality rights as a shield against such violations. The Gujarat High Court issued notices to Meta, Google, X, Reddit, and Scribd on a PIL concerning deepfake and AI-generated content, asking these platforms to onboard the government's SAHYOG portal for coordinated takedowns. These orders collectively establish a judicial consensus that deepfake content targeting identifiable individuals warrants immediate court intervention. The courts have consistently directed both state authorities and social media platforms to act swiftly, reflecting the understanding that delayed removal amplifies the harm caused by such content.

Key Takeaways on Deepfake Regulation in India

India's legal framework for addressing deepfakes is rapidly evolving through a combination of legislative action and judicial orders. The IT Rules 2026 provide the regulatory backbone with mandatory three-hour takedowns and AI content labelling. High Court orders from Karnataka, Delhi, Bombay, and Gujarat demonstrate active judicial willingness to grant urgent relief to deepfake victims. For individuals targeted by deepfakes, the most effective strategy is to file simultaneous complaints with the social media platform (triggering the three-hour takedown obligation), the local cyber crime cell, and if necessary, seek urgent injunctive relief from the High Court. For social media platforms and content creators, compliance with the labelling and takedown requirements is now legally mandatory, and non-compliance risks both loss of safe harbour protection and potential contempt of court proceedings.