The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka, and Ratna Singh in response to a woman’s petition calling for the removal of allegedly morphed images featuring her alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These images reportedly appeared on social media platforms and during a demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Justice Girish presided over the case, highlighting the necessity for prompt action regarding the petitioner’s concerns.

During the proceedings, Justice Girish ordered the Delhi Police to ensure comprehensive protection for the petitioner, in light of threats she allegedly faced. Furthermore, a status report detailing actions taken on the registered First Information Report (FIR) was requested to be submitted within one week. The court additionally instructed that its ruling be communicated without delay to Meta, requiring the removal of the contested content from their platforms within 24 hours.

Represented by advocate Umesh Chandra Sharma, the petitioner claimed that her images were manipulated using artificial intelligence without her consent, resulting in disrespectful portrayals with the Prime Minister. She further stated that these manipulated images circulated on social media and were prominently displayed at CJP-related events.

Investigation and Response from Authorities

While the court acknowledged that the allegations against the defendants had yet to be examined, it noted that the police counsel confirmed the registration of an FIR concerning the matter. Advocate Sharma indicated that despite this, effective actions had not been undertaken by law enforcement, leaving the petitioner vulnerable to threats.

The court commented on the sensitive nature of the case, suggesting that certain requests typically fall within the jurisdiction of civil courts. However, given the urgency, it opted to address the petition’s requests directly. The court ordered the Delhi Police to submit a detailed report within one week, specifying actions undertaken in response to the FIR.

Concerns arose regarding the accessibility of linked content in the petition, as some web links reportedly did not function properly. To mitigate this issue, the court instructed that relevant links be redacted from the documents filed by the petitioner. It was ordered that all pertinent photographs and videos be submitted to the investigating agency electronically and that the confidentiality of these materials be upheld.

Petitioner’s Safety and Protective Measures

The court also addressed the safety of the petitioner, who had not disclosed her residential address in the petition. A directive was issued for her to share her address with Sub-Inspector Anurag, who would then relay this information to the Station House Officer (SHO) responsible for her area. The SHO was tasked with ensuring complete police protection for the petitioner as adequately as possible.

The court stipulated that a follow-up status report on the protection measures provided to the petitioner should be submitted within a two-week timeframe. During the hearing, there was explicit concern expressed regarding her safety, with the court affirming its commitment to ensure that no harm befalls her in view of the circumstances surrounding the case.

This legal development highlights the balancing act between individual rights, digital privacy, and implications of social media use, as the court seeks to address immediate threats while navigating the complexities of legal jurisdiction in such matters.

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