Gautam Gambhir Seeks ₹2.5 Crore Damages Over Deepfake and AI Misuse

India head coach and former Member of Parliament Gautam Gambhir has approached the Delhi High Court seeking urgent relief against the alleged large-scale misuse of his identity through artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and unauthorised commercial exploitation.

The petition, filed before the High Court, names multiple social media accounts, intermediaries, and e-commerce platforms as defendants.

In his suit, the petitioner has sought a permanent injunction restraining all defendants from using or exploiting his name, image, voice, or persona without explicit consent.

He has also prayed for an immediate ex-parte ad-interim injunction directing the takedown of all infringing content and preventing further circulation of such material pending final adjudication.

Additionally, damages amounting to ₹2.5 crore along with rendition of accounts have been sought.

How have fake videos involving Gautam Gambhir impacted public perception and his reputation?

Gambhir has contended that since late 2025, there has been a sharp rise in fabricated digital content using AI tools such as face-swapping and voice cloning to falsely depict him making statements he never made.

According to the plea, some of these videos, including a fake resignation announcement and fabricated remarks on senior cricketers, garnered lakhs of views, thereby misleading the public and damaging his reputation.

The petitioner has further alleged that his identity has also been commercially exploited through the sale of unauthorised merchandise on e-commerce platforms, without any permission or licensing.

The suit has been filed against 16 defendants, including certain social media accounts, intermediaries such as platform operators, and e-commerce entities.

Government authorities have also been arrayed as pro-forma parties to ensure effective enforcement of any court directions.

Beginning in late 2025, Gambhir's legal team documented a sharp increase in fabricated digital content across Instagram, X formerly Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

The suit invokes provisions under the Copyright Act 1957, Trade Marks Act 1999, and the Commercial Courts Act 2015, while relying on judicial precedents recognising personality and publicity rights as enforceable legal rights, including in the context of AI-driven misuse.

It draws upon a body of Delhi High Court jurisprudence including landmark rulings in Amitabh Bachchan v. Rajat Nagi, Anil Kapoor v. Simply Life India, and Sunil Gavaskar v. Cricket Tak & Ors. that establish personality rights as proprietary and enforceable rights extending to AI-driven exploitation.

“This is not a matter of personal hurt; it is a matter of law, dignity, and the protection every public figure deserves in the age of artificial intelligence," he added.

The suit seeks a permanent injunction restraining all defendants from using, reproducing, or exploiting Gambhir's name, image, voice, or persona, including through AI, deepfake technology, morphing, and face-swapping, without his express written consent.

An urgent application for ex-parte ad-interim injunction has simultaneously been filed under Order XXXIX, Rules 1 and 2 CPC, requesting immediate takedown of all infringing content and a freeze on further dissemination pending final hearing.

The matter is expected to be taken up by the Delhi High Court in the coming days for consideration of interim relief.

(With inputs from ANI)