Chandigarh Court Orders Meta to Remove AI-Generated Video of Punjab MLA

A court in Chandigarh has mandated Meta Platforms to remove an AI-generated video featuring Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Punjab, from its Facebook and Instagram platforms within 72 hours. The order, issued by Civil Judge Kaushal Kumar Yadav on August 12, deemed the content defamatory and objectionable, granting an ad-interim injunction.

The directive targets specific URLs on Facebook and Instagram linked to the "Charda Punjab" page and "Chard_apunjab" Instagram account. According to Khaira's lawyer, Sarabjot Singh Cheema, the video was created by digitally superimposing Khaira's face and beard onto an AI-generated body dressed in a women's outfit. The lawyer stated the video had spread widely, damaging Khaira's reputation globally.

Judge Kaushal Kumar Yadav justified the decision by noting that Khaira would suffer "irreparable harm" if the content remained accessible. "At this stage, this Court is satisfied that the plaintiff has been able to make out a prima facie case for grant of ad-interim injunction as the content uploaded is apparently defamatory, objectionable and AI generated," the order stated.

Meta representatives indicated that the platform acts as an intermediary without direct knowledge of the content but will comply with the court's takedown order. The case is scheduled for further hearing on September 14, 2026, under case number CS CJ-1567-2026.

The incident raises questions about Meta's content moderation practices and compliance with India's recently amended IT Rules from February 2026, which mandate the labeling of synthetically generated information (SGI). MediaNama has reported that many major social media platforms in India have not been adhering to these regulations.