In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has granted interim relief to spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev by recognizing and safeguarding his personality rights. The court has restrained unauthorized entities and individuals from using his name, image, voice, and other personal attributes for commercial or misleading purposes across platforms, including digital media and merchandise.
Justice Sanjeev Narula passed the order on Tuesday in response to a plea filed by the Isha Foundation, which alleged rampant misuse of Sadhguru’s persona without consent. The Foundation argued that various social media accounts, e-commerce websites, and AI-generated content had been exploiting Sadhguru’s likeness and voice for promotions, videos, and products that had no official connection with him or the organization.
The court observed that such unauthorized use amounted to a violation of personality rights and could cause irreparable damage to Sadhguru’s reputation and the credibility of his teachings. “Public figures are entitled to protect their image and identity from being commercially exploited or falsely represented,” the court noted.
The interim injunction prohibits the creation, circulation, or sale of any merchandise, digital content, or manipulated media using Sadhguru’s persona without explicit permission. This includes AI-generated videos, fake interviews, and audio clips falsely attributed to him.
Legal experts have hailed the decision as a landmark moment in the recognition of personality rights in India. The ruling is particularly relevant in the current digital landscape, where the rise of deepfake technologies and artificial intelligence tools has made it easier to impersonate public figures without their knowledge or approval.
“The court has sent a strong message that personal identity cannot be misused for commercial gain or misinformation. It also reinforces the need for stronger digital regulations in the AI era,” said Priya Malhotra, a Delhi-based advocate specializing in intellectual property and media law.
The case is scheduled for further hearing later this month, where the court is expected to review the extent of unauthorized content and ensure broader implementation of the directive.
This order sets a precedent not only for spiritual leaders but for all public personalities in India seeking legal recourse to protect their digital identities. It also signals a growing awareness within the judiciary about the threats posed by unregulated content creation and distribution in the online space.
