Gautam Gambhir Moves Delhi High Court Against Deepfakes & Unauthorised Use of Identity
(New Delhi, 20th Match – Jaswinder Julka and Navneet Bansal, NewsRoom 7)
Mr. Gautam Gambhir — World Cup champion, Arjuna Awardee, Padma Shri recipient, former MP, and Head Coach of the Indian Men’s Cricket Team — has filed a civil suit in the Commercial Division of the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights against AI-generated deepfakes, impersonation, and unauthorised commercial use.
Complaint Overview:
Since late 2025, his legal team identified a surge in without fake content across platforms like Instagram, X, YouTube, and Facebook. AI tools were used to create videos falsely showing him making statements, including a fake resignation video (29 lakh views) and misleading remarks on cricketers (17 lakh views). Unauthorised merchandise using his name and image was also being sold online.
Defendants:
The case names 16 defendants, including social media accounts, e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, tech intermediaries, and government bodies as proforma parties.
Legal Grounds & Relief:
Filed under the Copyright Act 1957, Trade Marks Act 1999, and Commercial Courts Act 2015, the suit seeks ₹2.5 crore in damages, removal of infringing content, and a permanent injunction against misuse of his name, image, or voice through AI or other means. An urgent request for interim relief has also been made for immediate takedown of such content.
Statement:
“My identity… has been misused to spread misinformation and generate revenue. This is about law, dignity, and protecting public figures in the AI era.” — Gautam Gambhir
