Actor Suniel Shetty has approached the Bombay High Court on Friday seeking protection of his personality rights after discovering that several social media pages and websites have been using his photographs without authorisation to promote their businesses.
In his interim plea, Shetty has requested the court to issue directions to all such websites and online platforms to immediately remove his photographs and restrain them from any future unauthorised use.
The matter came up before a bench of Justice Arif Doctor on Friday, which briefly heard arguments from Shetty’s counsel, senior advocate Birendra Saraf, and reserved its order on the application.
Fake Photos Of Shetty & Grandchild Circulating Online
During the hearing, Saraf pointed out that several fake images of Shetty and his grandchild were circulating online and being used for commercial promotion by unrelated entities. He argued that such misuse not only violates the actor’s rights but also risks misleading the public.
The plea stated that Shetty’s photographs were being used for commercial gain by third parties without his consent.
Websites Misusing Actor’s Image
Saraf informed the court that the website of a real estate agency and a gambling platform had prominently displayed Shetty’s pictures to advertise their services, even though the actor has no association with them.
The plea argued that such unauthorised use of his likeness amounts to misrepresentation, potentially harming the actor’s public image and reputation.
In his petition, Suniel Shetty asserted that he holds a right over his personality and photographs, and that any attempt to exploit them for profit without his authorisation constitutes a violation of his personality and publicity rights.
He contended that these actions not only infringe on his privacy but also cause irreparable damage to his name and goodwill.
Order Reserved
After hearing brief submissions, the court bench reserved its order on the interim plea. The court is expected to decide soon whether to issue a restraining order against the unauthorised use of Shetty’s images.
The case underscores a growing trend among celebrities approaching courts to safeguard their personality and publicity rights in the digital era, where misuse of their likeness on social media and online platforms has become increasingly common.
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