Patna HC terms Congress AI video on PM Modi a rights violation, orders takedown

The Patna High Court on Wednesday ordered the Congress party to remove an AI-generated video related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother from all social media platforms. The court also issued notices to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram, and the Election Commission.

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice P.B. Bajanthri and Justice Alok Kumar Sinha passed the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vivekanand Singh. The petition challenged the creation and promotion of the video by the official social media handle of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee.

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The video, titled “Sahab ke sapnon mein aayi Maa” (Maa appears in Saahab’s dream), was posted on Bihar Congress’s social media platforms a few days ago. It depicted a character resembling Prime Minister Modi dreaming of a figure resembling his late mother, engaging in a symbolic conversation.

The NDA sharply criticised the video, calling it “disrespectful” and accusing the Congress of crossing all limits of political decency. However, Congress leaders defended the video, claiming it was not offensive but rather a symbolic portrayal of a mother advising her son on ‘raj dharma’.

Ordering the video’s removal from all official Congress social media accounts, Acting Chief Justice Bajanthri termed it a violation of fundamental rights. The court also stated that such AI-generated content breaches guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court and various High Courts.

Reacting to the court’s decision, BJP spokesperson Prem Ranjan Patel accused the Congress of “stooping low” and said that the people of Bihar would teach the party a lesson in the upcoming Assembly elections.

JDU leader Neeraj Kumar said the court’s ruling serves as a mirror for those claiming that the Constitution is under threat.

“As long as the Constitution exists, the judiciary exists. And if the judiciary exists, making such comments about someone’s mother or father is a legal offense,” he said, adding that the Congress party is in a state of political decline.