The Delhi High Court has decreed actor Arjun Kapoor’s personality rights suit, directing the removal of specified infringing links and making earlier interim protections absolute against several defendants. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav passed the judgment on October 14, 2026, after finding that the defendants had not contested the factual claims made in the plaint.
Background
Arjun Kapoor approached the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality, publicity and moral rights. He argued that his identity, including his name, image, likeness and performances, could not be commercially exploited by third parties without his consent.
The suit named several entities, including online marketplaces, social media accounts, digital platforms and other parties. The allegations concerned the unauthorised use of the actor’s persona through online content and merchandise, including material created using artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes and face-morphing technologies.
On April 29, 2026, the Court had passed an interim order restraining specified defendants from exploiting Kapoor’s identity without authorisation. It also directed certain defendants to remove identified links and required the disclosure of basic subscriber information relating to specified YouTube and Facebook/Instagram accounts.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav noted that none of the defendants had contested the factual assertions made in the plaint. The Court examined the material placed on record and found that the impugned links were being used without the actor’s consent for commercial exploitation.
The judgment observed:
“This Court has perused the impugned links and the material placed on record and is satisfied that the same are being used without the plaintiff’s consent and for commercial exploitation.”
The Court further explained why a full trial was unnecessary in the circumstances. No written statements or affidavits disputing the documents had been filed, and several defendants had already been proceeded against ex parte, meaning the proceedings continued without their participation.
The judgment stated:
“Consequently, no disputed question of fact arises which would necessitate a trial.”
The Court also referred to its earlier decision in Rajat Sharma & Anr. v. Tamara Doc & Ors., which recognised protection for artists against the unauthorised use or exploitation of their personality and copyright interests. That decision had provided a mechanism for approaching the relevant platforms with details of subsequently discovered infringing URLs or content.
The Delhi High Court decreed Kapoor’s suit and directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications to take down specified infringing links, including links attributable to defendant No. 3 that remained active. It also made the interim directions dated April 29, 2026, absolute insofar as they concerned defendants Nos. 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14 and 15.
The Court further permitted Kapoor to approach the relevant social media and online platforms with details of subsequently discovered URLs or content, supported by particulars and documents on affidavit. The platforms were to independently examine such requests under their respective policies. If they did not act, Kapoor could seek appropriate directions from the Court.
The suit and pending applications were disposed of, and the next hearing date before the Joint Registrar was cancelled.
