Published Oct 08, 2026 | 6:33 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 08, 2026 | 6:33 PM
Bageerath with his father, MoS Bandi Sanjay.
Synopsis: The Telangana High Court has restrained media houses, digital platforms and social media accounts from publishing fresh material about POCSO case accused Bandi Sai Bageerath, his family, the survivor and the investigation. It ordered the immediate removal of morphed or AI-generated images and posts identifying the survivor, and directed Google, Meta, X and other intermediaries to preserve digital evidence. The court also barred media trials, speculative discussion and publication of investigation material.
The Telangana High Court on Thursday, 8 October, restrained media houses, digital platforms, and social media handles from publishing fresh content about POCSO case-accused Bandi Sai Bageerath, his family, the survivor and the pending investigation, and ordered the immediate removal of egregious material such as AI-modified content and any content that identifies the survivor.
Hearing Bageerath’s writ petition filed on Tuesday, 6 October, Justice EV Venugopal allowed all five interim applications “as prayed for”. The matter will be heard next on 5 November.
Bageerath, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, moved the court alleging a media trial and the circulation of morphed and AI-generated images.
The court restrained social media platforms, media houses mentioned as respondents and all other unknown persons and channels from publishing, broadcasting, reposting or circulating fresh material on the POCSO case registered at Pet Basheerabad.
The order covers content that declares Bageerath guilty, amounts to a media trial or parallel investigation, or airs speculative debates and reconstructions. It also covers leaked investigation material, alleged confessional statements, morphed or AI-generated depictions of him and his family, and anything that identifies the survivor.
The court also barred speculative, sensational or premature discussion of any chargesheet that police may file under Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Pending disposal of the main petition, the court directed immediate removal and blocking of the “most egregious” content already online, namely the morphed images and posts identifying the survivor. Google, Meta, X and other intermediaries must preserve digital evidence, including subscriber details, metadata, URLs and upload history.
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The court also granted a John Doe/Ashok Kumar order against unidentified persons, along with a dynamic injunction. Once Bageerath or his advocates flag further or similar offending content, the platforms must remove, block or disable access to it here on.
He has liberty to return to the court if there is a dispute over any such material. Senior counsel Avinash Desai, appearing for Bageerath’s counsel Kailash Nath PSS, relied on two Bombay High Court orders.
The first was the interim relief in Nitin Jairam Gadkari v Meta Platforms Inc. The Bombay High Court directed platforms to remove AI-generated deepfake content targeting Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. It also allowed him to approach the platforms directly if similar material surfaced later.
The second was a 25 September order on a petition by the Tulir Charitable Trust (For Prevention & Healing of Child Sexual Abuse) Vs. The Commissioner of Police and others.
Justice Venugopal said he had perused both decisions and the material on record before allowing the applications.
Deputy Solicitor General of India N Bhujanga Rao took notice for the Union information and broadcasting ministry and MeitY, the first two respondents. He sought time to obtain instructions. The Assistant Government Pleader for Home took notice for the state government and the DGP.
(Edited by Dese Gowda with inputs from Sreshta Ladegaam)
