Delhi High Court Shields 'Pookie' Baba's Personality Rights

The Delhi High Court has upheld the personality rights of Aniruddhacharya, widely known as 'Pookie' Baba, by prohibiting the unauthorized use of his persona in media content. The court ordered social media companies to remove infringing material and highlighted the potential damage to Aniruddhacharya's reputation and goodwill.

The Delhi High Court has safeguarded the personality rights of renowned preacher Aniruddhacharya, affectionately known as 'Pookie' Baba, by banning the unsanctioned use of his name, voice, and image across various media platforms, including memes and videos.

Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued the interim order following Aniruddhacharya's lawsuit, mandating social media giants like Meta, X, and Google to eliminate the offending content. The court identified a substantial case supporting Aniruddhacharya, recognizing the damaging potential of such imitative content on his esteemed reputation.

The preacher's counsel argued that entities were exploiting his persona without authorization for illicit commercial benefit, falsely associating him with fraudulent activities. The High Court previously extended similar protections to various public figures, emphasizing the precedence of safeguarding personality rights.

(With inputs from agencies.)