Delhi High Court upholds Kumar Sanu’s personality rights after plea argued by advocate Sana Raees Khan

Delhi High Court upholds Kumar Sanu’s personality rights

The Delhi High Court ruled in favour of legendary playback singer Kumar Sanu, preserving his reputation and publicity rights in a significant step to protect artists' identities in the digital age.

The ruling comes after Advocate Sana Raees Khan made a strong argument, and it is a significant win for all artists whose identities are at risk of being misused online, not just Sanu.

Reflecting on the case, Advocate Sana Raees Khan said, “This victory reinforces that an artist’s voice, image and identity are their personal property and not open for digital exploitation. This judgment is a landmark for every artist whose identity is at risk in the digital age.”

For decades, Kumar Sanu’s voice has been a part of India’s musical soul, defining the sound of the ’90s with unforgettable melodies. But in recent years, like many celebrities, he has faced a new challenge, i.e. the unauthorised use of his voice, image, and persona online.

His plea sought protection over every aspect of his artistry: his name, vocal tone and technique, style of singing, likeness, and even his signature.

Filed through Advocates Shikha Sachdeva and Sana Raees Khan, the petition highlighted growing misuse of Sanu’s identity — from AI-generated videos and cloned voice recordings to GIFs and memes that distort his image and performances.

Some of these materials, the plea claimed, were even being monetised on social platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, without his permission.

The plea also emphasised how such acts violate Sanu's moral and personality rights under the Copyright Act in addition to harming his professional reputation.

Also Read: Kumar Sanu sends legal notice to ex-wife Rita Bhattacharya over defamation claims via Lawyer Sana Raees Khan

It asked the court to impose an order on anyone trying to make money off of his image or produce deceptive endorsements that might mislead fans.

As per PTI, a further hearing in the case, presided over by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, is set for October 13. The verdict is already being seen as a watershed in Indian entertainment law.

What precisely are personality rights, then? These are a person's legal rights to manage the commercial use of their name, voice, image, and identity; they are particularly important in a world where digital manipulation and AI deepfakes can easily conflate real and fake.