Jalandhar Court Orders Immediate Removal of Altered Atishi Video
A court in Jalandhar has issued a decisive order for the swift removal of a manipulated video featuring Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi. The court found that the video's circulation presents a clear danger to public order and religious harmony in Punjab.
Court Directs Social Media Giants to Act
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Jalandhar instructed major social media platforms to take immediate action. Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, along with X and Telegram, must remove the content linked to specific URLs without any delay.
The court mandated removal within 24 hours of receiving the order. It further directed that all identical, mirror, or derivative versions of the video be blocked as soon as they are detected by the state cybercrime department. The platforms have a strict deadline of 10 days to submit a compliance report confirming the takedown.
Forensic Analysis Reveals Video Manipulation
Police informed the court that a detailed technical investigation thoroughly disproved the authenticity of the viral clip. Social media experts initially used the AI-based tool Gemini to detect signs of digital manipulation.
The investigation deepened with an examination by the state Forensic Science Laboratory in Mohali. The FSL report, involving auditory and spectrographic analysis, provided conclusive evidence.
Investigators discovered that Atishi never uttered the word "Guru" in her original speech during Delhi Assembly proceedings. Captions and edits were intentionally inserted to falsely attribute certain words to her, completely distorting the context of her remarks.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
The case originated from an FIR registered on January 7 based on a complaint by local AAP leader Iqbal Singh Bagga from Jalandhar. Bagga alleged the edited video was circulated with malicious intent by several political figures.
The police have registered a case under serious charges:
- Promoting enmity between groups on religious grounds under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Public mischief and provisions of the Information Technology Act dealing with identity theft and misuse of computer resources.
The controversy has sparked strong reactions from various quarters, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. Authorities confirm the investigation is ongoing. Further action will be taken based on digital evidence and the role of individuals involved in circulating the altered content.
The court's order specifically cites Rule 3(d) of the Information Technology Rules, 2021, emphasizing the legal framework for such takedowns to protect communal harmony.
