NTR Junior Moves Delhi HC Over Personality Rights; Social Media Told to Act Under IT Rules
NTR Jr moves Delhi HC seeking protection of personality rights; platforms directed to treat plea as formal complaint
Actor Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao Junior, widely known as NTR Jr, has moved the Delhi High Court seeking protection of his personality rights, alleging unauthorised commercial use of his name, photographs and persona on social media and e-commerce platforms.
The matter was taken up today by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate J Sai Deepak, appearing for the actor, placed material before the Court to demonstrate allegedly infringing and commercially exploitative content circulating online, including on multiple social media and e-commerce platforms.
After hearing the submissions, the Court directed social media intermediaries and online marketplaces to treat the suit as a formal complaint under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and to take appropriate action within three days.
The Court clarified that further directions would follow after examining replies and compliance reports, and listed the matter for further hearing on December 22.
Recently, while granting interim relief to actor Ajay Devgn, the Delhi High Court observed that individuals seeking removal of defamatory or unauthorised content should first approach social media intermediaries under the 2021 IT Rules before seeking injunctions from the Court. The Bench noted that most platforms do not resist taking down content that is defamatory, misleading or violative of personality rights.
The instant plea adds to a wave of similar petitions filed by public personalities to restrain unauthorised online monetisation of their likeness, voice and image.
In recent months, actors Hrithik Roshan, Nagarjuna, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, as well as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Sudhir Chaudhary, Abhishek Bachchan and Karan Johar, have approached the Delhi High Court over misuse of their personality rights.
Case Title: Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao v. Ashok Kumar/John Doe and Ors
Bench: Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora
Hearing Date: 8 December 2025