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Delhi High Court Imposes 72-Hour Takedown Deadline in Gavaskar Case, Extends Madhavan Personality Rights Shield

The bench is pairing rapid takedown timelines with explicit platform duties, leaving wider AI deepfake questions for hearings next year.

Overview

  • Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora granted Sunil Gavaskar ad‑interim relief, ordering removal of unauthorised merchandise and posts falsely attributing quotes, with a 72‑hour window for users to delete identified URLs before platforms must act.
  • In R. Madhavan’s suit a day earlier, the court restrained commercial exploitation of his name, image and likeness, directed takedown of obscene material, and noted reports of deepfake videos and fake film trailers.
  • The judge recorded that complainants had first approached intermediaries, reinforcing the expectation that urgent takedown seekers use platform remedies before seeking court orders under the IT Rules framework.
  • Broader questions around AI‑generated content were expressly deferred, with the judge stating he was not ready to rule on AI issues now; both matters are listed for further hearings in May 2026.
  • The orders reflect a growing Delhi High Court trend of interim injunctions protecting personality and publicity rights across celebrities and sportspersons, with John Doe directions and cross‑platform compliance requirements used as stopgap measures.