The Patna High Court on Wednesday (17 September 2025) directed the removal of an AI-generated video posted by the Bihar Congress that featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother Heeraben Modi from all social media platforms.
The Court instructed intermediaries to stop circulation of the video, if still being shared, citing various Supreme Court judgments such as “KS Puttaswamy”, “NALSA Foundation”, and “Subramanian Swamy”, which held that the right to privacy and dignity formed part of the fundamental rights of a person.
“To avoid further damages, if any, respondents 6-8 are hereby directed not to circulate the subject video clipping from here afterwards until further orders to be passed by this Court,” the bench ordered. Respondents 6 to 8 in the case are Meta Platforms, Google India (YouTube), and X (Twitter) India.
A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice PB Bajanthri and Justice Alok Kumar Sinha passed the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Vivekanand Singh, who sought the removal of the video.
The Court also issued notices to the Union Government, the Bihar Government, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, the Election Commission of India, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The controversial video depicted Prime Minister Modi dreaming of his late mother, who appears in the clip to reprimand him for his policies. The petitioner argued that the video was “disgusting, disgraceful, distasteful and dishonouring” as it infringed upon the dignity of the Prime Minister’s late mother. He further submitted that the video had been posted with the knowledge of Rahul Gandhi.
Senior Advocate Santosh Kumar, appearing for the petitioner, pointed out that the video coincided with the sacred period of pitru paksh when the Prime Minister was performing rituals for his late mother. He said the clip showed the Prime Minister’s mother chiding him over policies such as demonetisation.
In this regard, he emphasized that the demonetisation policy had already been upheld by the Supreme Court. “Worst kind of calumny is inflicted upon the Prime Minister,” he submitted.
