Delhi Court Grants Bail in AI-Morphed Image Case Involving PM Modi and Shah Rukh Khan

April 3, 2026 : A Delhi court has granted bail to Mujahid Jamal Shaikh, accused of sharing an AI-morphed image of Narendra Modi on the social media platform X, depicting him allegedly bowing before actor Shah Rukh Khan.

Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Pratap Singh Laler of the Patiala House Courts allowed the bail application, noting that the accused has strong roots in society, no prior criminal record, and had cooperated with the investigation. The Court observed that there was no reasonable apprehension of absconding or tampering with evidence.

It further recorded that the case primarily rests on electronic evidence. The accused’s mobile phone has already been seized, and the concerned social media account was deactivated at the request of the investigating agency.

The case was registered by the Special Cell of Delhi Police under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 336(4) (forgery), 356(2) (criminal defamation), and 353(2) (promotion of enmity), along with Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

According to the prosecution, the accused reposted the AI-generated image on February 1, 2026, which could potentially disturb public harmony. However, the defence argued that the post did not meet the legal threshold for offences related to promoting hatred or public disorder.

While granting bail, the Court also flagged procedural irregularities, particularly concerning a disputed “grounds of arrest” document. It directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, to conduct a preliminary inquiry into its authenticity and permitted obtaining expert opinion, including from a handwriting expert if required.