Delhi High Court Orders Removal of Obscene Content Misusing R Madhavan’s Name

The Delhi High Court has ordered the immediate removal of obscene online content that falsely uses the name and photographs of actor R Madhavan. The Court also directed the takedown of web pages selling unauthorised merchandise in his name.

Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora passed the interim order in a suit filed by Madhavan to protect his personality rights. The actor alleged that several online platforms were hosting obscene content, fake movie trailers, and merchandise that wrongly suggested his involvement or endorsement.

Senior Advocate Swathi Sukumar, appearing for Madhavan, informed the Court that complaints were already filed under the IT Rules, 2021. While some links were removed by social media platforms, many were left untouched without any clear reason. It was argued that selective removal had no legal basis, as the right over one’s likeness applies equally to all such content.

The actor also raised concerns over fake trailers of non-existent films like Shaitan 2 and Kesari 3, clarifying that he had no connection with such projects.

During the hearing, Meta argued that certain fan-made or meme content should not be removed, as it could lead to excessive litigation. However, after examining the links, the Court ordered the takedown of clearly obscene material and unauthorised merchandise listings.

The Court further directed social media intermediaries to share basic subscriber details of the alleged infringers within three weeks. On the issue of AI-generated content and deepfakes, the Court said it would examine the matter carefully and pass orders later, especially where obscenity is involved. The case will be heard again in May 2026.