Karnataka High Court
Sri Sheenappa vs The State Of Karnataka on 14 May, 2026
Author: S.R.Krishna Kumar
Bench: S.R.Krishna Kumar
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NC: 2026:KHC:24764
WP No. 13836 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 14TH DAY OF MAY, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
WRIT PETITION NO. 13836 OF 2026 (GM-RES)
BETWEEN:
1. SRI SHEENAPPA
S/O SRI ANGARA MOOLYA.
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR.
SRI KSHETRA DHARMASTHALA
RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (R), B.C. TRUST.
NO.43, 44, M.S. RAMAIAH LAYOUT,
BEHIND PATIDARA SAMAJA.
NAGASANDRA POST,
BENGALURU-560 073
2. SRI NANDEESH KUMAR JAIN,
S/O NIRMAL KUMAR B,
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS,
R/AT NO.404. VAISHNAVI PRIME,
ANDREW ROAD, RICHMOND TOWN,
Digitally signed BENGALURU-560 027.
by CHANDANA
BM 3. SRI NISCHAL D.
Location: High S/O HARSHENDRA KUMAR D,
Court of AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS,
Karnataka
R/AT NO.55, VITTAL MALLYA ROAD,
SHANTHALA NAGAR, BENGALURU 560 001
4. SRI SUNIL P.,
S/O SRI CHANDRAN P,
AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS,
R/AT ONYX CENTRE,
ASHOK NAGAR, SHANTALA NAGAR,
BENGALURU-560 001
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. S.RAJASHEKAR., ADVOCATE)
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AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY,
VIDHANA SOUDHA,
DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU-560 001.
2. CEN POLICE STATION CENTRAL DIVISION,
BENGALURU CITY,
NO.55, ABHAYA BHAVAN, 4TH FLOOR,
RISALDAR ROAD, SHESHADRIPURAM,
BENGALURU - 560020
E-MAIL ID [email protected]
3. THE PUBLISHERS AND BROADCASTERS,
WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF KARNATAKA,
C/O PRESS CLUB.
BENGALURU-560 001
REP. BY ITS SECRETARY.
4. GOOGLE LLC
NO.3. 3RD, 4TH AND 5TH FLOOR.
RMZ INFINITY TOWER-E,
OLD MADRAS ROAD, SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ROAD,
BENGALURU-560 008
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.
5. INSTAGRAM LLC
HAVING ITS OFFICE AT
NO.110. LINKWAY ESTATE
NEW LINK ROAD. MALAD (WEST)
MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA 400064
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
ALSO AT:
INSTAGRAM LLC.
1ST FLOOR, SPD PLAZA.
KORAMANGALA INDUSTRIAL LAYOUT,
5TH BLOCK, KORAMANGALA.
BENGALURU-560 034,
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
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ALSO AT:
INSTAGRAM LLC.
IG INFOTECH INDIA PVT. LTD..
EMBASSY GOLF LINK BUSINESS PARK,
CHELLAGHATTA, BENGALURU-560 071.
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
6. WHATSAPP LLC.
UNIT B-8 AND B-10,
THE EXECUTIVE CENTRE,
LEVEL-18, DLF CYBER CITY.
BUILDING NO.5, TOWER-A.
PHASE-III, GURGAON.
HARYANA-122 002
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.
7. META PLATFORMS INC/
FACEBOOK INDIA
HAVING ITS OFFICE AT UNIT NOS. 1203 AND 1204,
LEVEL-12, BUILDING NO.20,
RAHEJA MINDSPACE, CYBERABAD,
MADHAPUR, HITECH CITY,
HYDERABAD, KARNOOL-500 081
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH, AGA FOR R1 TO R2,
SRI. MANU KULKARNI, ADV. FOR R4,
NOTICE TO R3, R5 TO R7 D/W.)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF
MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO. 2 TO CONSIDER
THE REPRESENTATIONS DATED 24.03.2025 SUBMITTED BY THE
4TH PETITIONER AND TO TAKE SUITABLE ACTION VIDE
ANNEXURE-A AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
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ORAL ORDER
In this petition, petitioners seek the following reliefs:
"The petitioners respectfully pray that this Hon'ble court may be pleased to:-
a) Issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent No. 2 to consider the representations dated 24.03.2025 submitted by the 4th petitioner and to take suitable action vide Annexure-A.
b) Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, directing the Respondent Nos.2 to 7 not to permit or allow the creation, generation, publication, upload, transmission, hosting or circulation of any AI-generated, morphed, manipulated or fabricated images, videos or content depicting Dr. D.Veerendra Heggade and his family members in any manner whatsoever;
c) Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent Nos.2 to 7 that in the event any content is uploaded or comes into existence, upon the Petitioners bringing the same to the notice of the Respondent Nos.2 to 7. the Respondent Nos.2 to 7 shall acknowledge such notice forthwith and remove, take down and permanently delete the said content within 24 hours from the receipt of such notice, without insisting on repeated complaints;
d) Issue a writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent Nos.2 to 7 to block, suspend, disable or permanently more fully remove the accounts, channels, pages, profiles and URLs which are involved in the creation or dissemination of such unlawful content; -5-
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e) Issue a writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent Nos.2 to 7 to find out the identity of the individuals involved in creation, generation, publication, upload. transmission, hosting or circulation of any Al- generated, morphed, manipulated or fabricated images, videos or content depicting Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade and his family members.
f) Grant such other and further reliefs as this Hon'ble Court as this Hon'ble court deems fit and proper under the circumstances of this case, in the interest of justice and equity."
2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners, respondent No.4 and learned AGA for respondent Nos.1 and 2 and perused the material on record.
3. The limited grievance of the present petitioners is that, despite the representation at Annexure-A submitted by petitioners pursuant to the directions issued by this Court in W.P.No.19382/2023, the respondent Nos.1 and 2 are not taking any steps to take down/remove the defamatory, illegal content, illegal AI generated, morphed, manipulated, fabricated images, videos and content depicting Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, his family -6- NC: 2026:KHC:24764 WP No. 13836 of 2026 HC-KAR members, etc., on all social media, URLs, press / media, social media platforms, etc., including the respondent Nos.3 to 6 and as such, petitioners are before this Court by way of the present petition.
4. Per contra, learned AGA submits that if reasonable time is granted, respondent Nos.1 and 2 will take necessary steps to take down/remove the defamatory, illegal content, illegal AI generated, morphed, manipulated, fabricated images, videos and content depicting Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade, his family members, etc., on all social media, URLs, press / media, social media platforms, etc., including the respondent Nos.3 to 6 as expeditiously as possible.
5. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances and submissions made by both sides, it is just and appropriate to dispose off this petition directing respondent Nos.1 and 2 to take necessary/effective/ immediate steps to ensure that AI-generated, morphed, -7- NC: 2026:KHC:24764 WP No. 13836 of 2026 HC-KAR manipulated or fabricated images, video content depicting Dr.D.Veerendra Heggade, his family members, etc., to be taken down, removed, erased, effaced, deleted, etc., from all social media, URLs, press / media, social media platforms, etc., and press and other media including respondent Nos.3 to 7 within a period of one week from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
6. Subject to the aforesaid observations and directions, the petition stands disposed of.
Sd/-
(S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE KBM/SV List No.: 2 Sl No.: 14