Delhi High Court Grants Khushi Kapoor Relief Against Unauthorised Merchandise, Obscene Content
The Delhi High Court has indicated it will order the takedown of links carrying obscene and pornographic content and links selling unauthorised merchandise bearing actor Khushi Kapoor's persona.
Even as the court left the larger dispute over "fan pages" open for a later hearing, Justice Jyoti Singh confined today's relief to unauthorized merchandise sales and obscene or pornographic content.
Kapoor, described in the plea as an actress and fashion icon, moved court against unknown persons, citing two broad categories of infringement: unauthorized commercial exploitation of her image and obscene or pornographic material carrying her likeness.
Counsel for Kapoor took the court through links stated to be websites selling unauthorised merchandise bearing her image, and others stated to be pornographic content on the same website.
Both categories, the court was told, involved a website previously restrained by the same court in other proceedings.
On a separate set of links flagged as impersonating accounts, Meta's counsel objected that these were fan pages, not impersonation, pointing to Instagram bio disclaimers to that effect.
Kapoor's counsel chose not to press this category today, saying it would be argued separately.
The court eventually directed takedown of links through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications
The suit has been listed before the joint registrar on September 17, with the interim application before the court on December 18.
The order comes a day after Kapoor's sister, actor Janhvi Kapoor, also approached the Delhi High Court in a similar personality rights suit.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani declined to pass a blanket injunction across the nearly 6,884 URLs she had cited, but directed immediate takedown of content that was ex facie obscene or pornographic.
IndiaLaw LLP through its partners Asav Rajan and Abha Shah represented Kapoor.