Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the circulation of artificial intelligence-generated deepfake videos falsely portraying him praising Pakistan and making other politically sensitive remarks. The complaint was registered on Friday.

Justice Mini Pushkarna has issued summons to social media companies X and Meta Platforms, as well as to the central government, in connection with the case. The judge indicated that an interim order favoring Tharoor may be forthcoming.

Tharoor, who serves as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs and represents Thiruvananthapuram in Parliament, alleges that unidentified individuals have been repeatedly distributing fabricated videos misusing his facial features, voice, and other personal characteristics. Senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing on behalf of Tharoor, argued that such content severely damages the MP’s reputation both as a patriot and a key figure in India’s foreign affairs.

Although some media outlets, including India Today and PTI, have publicly identified the videos as fake, the senior counsel noted that the wider public continues to perceive them as authentic. He added that the issue extends beyond reputational harm, warning that such deepfakes could be exploited by foreign actors to undermine India’s standing. Sibal further mentioned that despite actions taken under the Information Technology Rules and law enforcement efforts resulting in removal of some offending links, the content persistently reappears online.

The plea contends the unauthorized use and cloning of Tharoor’s likeness and voice amounts to a violation of his personality rights and privacy. Tharoor’s legal team characterizes the campaign as a “sophisticated, malicious” operation launched around March 2026, designed to damage his public image.

Representatives for Meta confirmed that the specified content on Instagram was rendered inaccessible earlier on Friday following the court proceedings. The case remains under judicial consideration as the court evaluates possible interim relief measures.