SC Declines to Hear Plea on Deepfake Videos of Col. Sofiya Qureshi, Cites Ongoing Delhi HC Proceedings
“These criminals are faster than regulatory mechanisms. This is being considered at another forum. Please go there and intervene.” – Supreme Court Bench
In a significant development on Friday, the Supreme Court of India refused to entertain a petition seeking urgent action against the circulation of deepfake videos targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Army officer who led media briefings on Operation Sindoor. The apex court directed the petitioner to approach the Delhi High Court, which it noted was already seized of similar matters.
The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, acknowledged the seriousness of the issue but maintained that parallel proceedings must be avoided.
“We are not saying it is not a serious issue. But the Delhi High Court has been hearing this matter for a couple of years. If we entertain this petition, the High Court will stop hearing the pending matter and all its hard work over the years will go in vain,” the bench observed.
The petition was filed by Advocate Narendra Kumar Goswami, a member of the Bar Council, who appeared in person and expressed his deep concern over the viral spread of obscene, AI-generated videos featuring Col. Qureshi. He urged the Supreme Court to establish a court-monitored expert committee to draft a model law to combat deepfake abuse.
However, the bench remained firm in its refusal to intervene at this stage. Emphasising the urgent and evolving nature of the issue, the court remarked, “By the time you leave this court there will be another video. There is no point talking about it here. These criminals are faster than regulatory mechanisms.”
Reiterating the ongoing judicial consideration of the matter, the court advised, “This is being considered at another forum. Please go there and intervene.”
The matter now returns to the Delhi High Court, where similar cases concerning deepfake content and AI-generated media manipulation are currently under active adjudication.
Case: Narendra Kumar Goswami vs Union of India & Others – Available on LAWFYI.IO
