On May 7, 2026, the Delhi High Court granted a comprehensive ex parte ad interim injunction in favor of Aman Gupta, co-founder of boAt Lifestyle, Founder and CEO of OFF/BEAT, and a recognized figure from Shark Tank India. The ruling marks a significant development at the intersection of celebrity rights, artificial intelligence, and India’s digital legal framework.
The order effectively restrains over 44 defendants from exploiting Gupta’s name, image, voice, likeness, and overall persona without explicit authorization.
Scope of the Injunction
Passed by Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, the interim relief addresses a wide spectrum of alleged digital and commercial violations. Gupta’s petition outlined large-scale misuse of his identity across multiple platforms.
The unauthorized activities restrained by the court include:
- AI-Generated Misuse: The creation and circulation of deepfake pornographic content and other AI-generated impersonations.
- Misleading Digital Assets: Fake speaker booking websites and automated Telegram bots impersonating the entrepreneur.
- Commercial Exploitation: Fake brand endorsements and the sale of unauthorized merchandise utilizing Gupta’s likeness.
To enforce the injunction, the court directed digital intermediaries, including Google LLC, to take down the infringing content and disclose specific account details associated with the violations.
A Shift in Personality Rights
While Indian courts have a precedent of protecting the personality and publicity rights of traditional celebrities such as film actors and athletes, this case represents a notable expansion of those protections. It is one of the first major instances of these rights being extended to a new-age entrepreneur whose public persona was primarily built through digital media, brand building, and television visibility.
The ruling underscores a broader shift in the modern business ecosystem, acknowledging that startup founders now frequently function as public personalities with distinct, monetizable identity assets. For the startup sector, the case highlights the emerging necessity of treating a founder’s identity as intellectual property, particularly given the rise of AI-driven content generation and platform-amplified impersonation risks.
Legal Representation and Next Steps
During the proceedings, the plaintiff was represented by Senior Advocate Ms. Diya Kapur along with a team of advocates. Google LLC was represented by its own legal counsel, while the Union of India appeared through the Central Government Standing Counsel.
The court has directed the defendants to file their written statements within 30 days of receiving summons. The timeline for future proceedings is as follows:
- August 3, 2026: The matter will be listed before the Joint Registrar (Judicial) for the completion of service and pleadings.
- October 1, 2026: The case is scheduled to be heard before the Court.