The Patna High Court has issued a stern directive to the Indian National Congress, ordering the immediate removal of an AI-generated video that depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, Heeraben Modi. The interim order, delivered on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice P.B. Baijanthri and Justice Alok Kumar Sinha, was in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Vivekanand Singh.
AI-Generated Video Sparks Controversy
The controversial 36-second video, posted by the Bihar Congress unit on its social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), on September 10, 2025, portrayed Prime Minister Modi in a dream sequence with his late mother. In the fabricated interaction, Heeraben Modi was depicted criticizing her son’s political decisions in the context of the upcoming elections in Bihar. While the video was marked as AI-generated, its content quickly ignited a significant political storm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Congress of resorting to “shameful” and “disrespectful” tactics.
Legal Challenge and Court’s Intervention
Vivikanand Singh filed the PIL on September 15, 2025, arguing that the video contained defamatory remarks and constituted malicious propaganda. The petition contended that such content not only violated the privacy and dignity rights of the Prime Minister and his deceased mother but also amounted to a corrupt practice under Section 123(4) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The petitioner further highlighted the timing of the video’s release during the sacred period of Pitru Paksha, an ancestral remembrance ritual, as particularly insensitive and aggravating.
The court, acknowledging these concerns, found merit in the petitioner’s plea, stating that the video violated Article 21 of the Constitution, which deals with the Right to Privacy and human dignity. The bench explicitly directed social media intermediaries – Meta Platforms (Facebook), Google India (YouTube), and X India – to cease the circulation of the video to prevent further damages. Notices were also issued to the Union and Bihar governments, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, the Election Commission of India, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, seeking their responses on the matter.
Broader Implications for AI in Politics
This ruling comes at a time when the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfakes in political campaigns is a growing concern across India and globally. Experts have warned that such manipulated content can be used to spread misinformation, damage reputations, distort public discourse, and undermine trust in democratic institutions. The ease with which convincing AI-generated videos can be created poses a significant challenge for regulators and election bodies trying to ensure fair and free polls. The Patna High Court’s order underscores the judiciary’s increasing attention to the ethical and legal boundaries of using AI technology in politics, particularly when it involves individuals’ dignity and privacy.
Political Reactions and Congress’s Stance
Following the court’s order, political leaders from various parties welcomed the decision, viewing it as a lesson against malicious propaganda. The BJP reiterated its criticism, with leaders calling the video an insult to women and mothers. The Congress party, while defending its actions previously, stating that no disrespect was intended and that the video was meant as satire, will now have to comply with the court’s directive to remove the AI-generated content. This trending news highlights the delicate balance between freedom of speech and the imperative to prevent the misuse of emerging technologies in the political arena. The court has made it clear that the video shall remain withdrawn until further orders, with the next hearing scheduled in two weeks.
This entire controversy is developing rapidly, making it crucial news for understanding the evolving landscape of AI ethics in India’s democratic processes. The legal ramifications and the political fallout of this AI-generated video are expected to continue making headlines as the nation navigates the complex interplay of technology and elections.
