The Patna High Court has ordered the immediate removal of an artificial intelligence (AI)generated video released by the Bihar Congress unit that depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi being scolded in a dream by his late mother, Heeraben Modi.
The directive was issued by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice P. B. Bajanthri and Justice Alok Kumar Sinha. The court instructed major online platforms including Meta, Google India (YouTube), and X (formerly Twitter) to ensure that the video is taken down and prevented from further circulation.
The order came in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by advocate Vivekanand Singh, who argued that the video was offensive and violated the dignity of the Prime Minister’s deceased mother. Singh submitted that such content was “disgraceful, dishonouring, and distasteful,” amounting to an intrusion on the fundamental right to privacy and dignity, as upheld by landmark Supreme Court judgments such as KS Puttaswamy and NALSA Foundation.
The petitioner further highlighted the timing of the video’s release during Pitru Paksha, a traditional period dedicated to paying homage to ancestors, arguing that it added to the insensitivity of the act. He also contended that the video misrepresented government policies, including demonetisation, despite the Supreme Court having upheld its validity.
Taking these arguments into account, the court not only directed the removal of the video but also issued notices to several stakeholders, including the Union Government, the Bihar Government, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, the Election Commission of India, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, seeking their responses.
The ruling reflects the judiciary’s increasing attention to the misuse of AI-generated content in political campaigns and its potential to harm reputations, distort public debate, and encroach upon individual dignity.