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Patna High Court Orders Removal of Bihar Congress AI Video Featuring PM Modi’s Late Mother

Court says video violates dignity and privacy; directs social media platforms to stop circulation

Political storm erupts ahead of Bihar polls over AI-generated clip; notices issued to Congress, Rahul Gandhi, and tech giants

By Our Legal Reporter

Patna, September 17, 2025 — The Patna High Court has ordered the immediate removal of an AI-generated video posted by the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee that depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, Heeraben Modi. The Court said the video violated the dignity and privacy of the Prime Minister’s mother and must be taken down from all social media platforms.

The order, passed by a bench of Acting Chief Justice P.B. Bajanthri and Justice Alok Kumar Sinha, came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Vivekanand Singh. The petitioner argued that the 36-second clip was “disgusting, disgraceful, distasteful, and dishonouring” to the memory of Heeraben Modi, and amounted to an attack on the sanctity of motherhood.

What the Video Showed

The AI-generated video, posted on September 10, 2025, by the Bihar Congress unit on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, carried a label stating “AI GENERATED.” It portrayed Prime Minister Modi lying in bed and dreaming of his late mother, who appears to scold him for his political decisions, including demonetisation.

The clip was released during the Hindu ritual period of Pitru Paksha, when the Prime Minister was reportedly performing rites for his late mother. The petitioner’s counsel, Senior Advocate Santosh Kumar, argued that the timing was deliberate and hurtful, and that the demonetisation policy referenced in the video had been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Court’s Observations

The bench referred to landmark Supreme Court judgments — including K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (right to privacy), NALSA v. Union of India (dignity as a fundamental right), and Subramanian Swamy v. Union of India (reputation as part of Article 21) — to hold that the dignity and privacy of an individual, even after death, are protected under the Constitution.

“To avoid further damages, if any, respondents 6-8 are hereby directed not to circulate the subject video clipping from here afterwards until further orders,” the Court said. Respondents 6 to 8 are Meta Platforms (Facebook, Instagram), Google India (YouTube), and X (Twitter) India.

The Court also issued notices to the Union Government, the Bihar Government, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, the Election Commission of India, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Political Reactions

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) condemned the video, calling it “shameful” and “an insult to all mothers, sisters, and daughters.” BJP leaders accused the Congress of crossing ethical boundaries by using AI technology to target the Prime Minister’s family.

Prime Minister Modi himself, in a public statement, said the incident was “unimaginable” and reiterated that his mother had never been involved in politics.

The Congress party, however, defended the video as political satire. The Bihar unit said it was intended as “creative criticism” of the Prime Minister’s policies and was clearly marked as AI-generated to avoid misleading viewers. Party leaders denied any intent to disrespect Heeraben Modi.

FIR and Legal Action

On September 13, 2025, the Delhi Police registered an FIR against the Congress party and its IT cell after a complaint by Sanket Gupta, convenor of the BJP Delhi Election Cell. The FIR, filed at North Avenue Police Station, alleged that the video was defamatory and offensive to the dignity of Heeraben Modi and motherhood in general.

The complaint also claimed that the video was part of a pattern of personal attacks, citing an earlier incident on August 27, when offensive slogans against the Prime Minister and his mother were allegedly raised at a Congress–Rashtriya Janata Dal rally in Darbhanga.

AI in Political Campaigning — A Growing Concern

The controversy has reignited debate over the use of artificial intelligence in political messaging. Experts warn that AI-generated “deepfake” videos can blur the line between satire and misinformation, especially during election campaigns.

The Bihar Assembly elections are just two months away, and both the NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc have intensified their campaigns. Political analysts say the incident could influence voter sentiment, particularly in rural areas where personal and family honour carry significant weight.

Ethics and Election Law

While Indian election law prohibits personal attacks and defamatory content, the rapid rise of AI tools has created new challenges for regulators. The Election Commission of India has issued advisories urging political parties to avoid deepfake content, but enforcement remains difficult.

Legal experts say the Patna High Court’s order could set an important precedent for how courts handle AI-generated political content that targets family members of public figures.

Next Steps in the Case

The High Court has sought responses from all parties named in the PIL, including Rahul Gandhi, the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, and the social media platforms. The matter will be heard again after the respondents file their replies.

Until then, the Court’s interim order requires that the video be removed from all platforms and that its further circulation be stopped.

Broader Implications

This case is not just about one video — it’s about the boundaries of political speech in the age of AI. It raises questions about:

Privacy after death: Can the dignity of a deceased person be legally protected?
Ethics in political satire: Where is the line between humour and defamation?
Regulation of AI content: How can laws keep pace with rapidly evolving technology?

The answers will likely shape not only the outcome of this case but also the rules of engagement for future political campaigns in India.

In summary:

The Patna High Court’s order to remove the Bihar Congress’s AI-generated video featuring Prime Minister Modi’s late mother has sparked a major political and legal debate. The case touches on privacy, dignity, election ethics, and the role of AI in political discourse — issues that will only grow more urgent as India heads into a high-stakes election season.