In a significant development in Uttarakhand's political landscape, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has filed a formal police complaint against the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The complaint alleges that the party's official social media account uploaded a manipulated, AI-generated video portraying him in a damaging and objectionable light.
Former CM Alleges Character Assassination Through Deepfake
The incident came to light on Tuesday when Harish Rawat, accompanied by other senior Congress leaders, approached the Nehru Colony police station in Dehradun. In his signed application, Rawat stated that the video, uploaded on December 18, was crafted to depict him as anti-national. He expressed deep hurt and distress over the content, which he claims is completely fabricated and has no connection to him.
Rawat elaborated on the video's content, alleging, "I have been shown as a spy in one of the videos and I get shot on naming Rahul Gandhi." He challenged his detractors, stating, "If they have the guts, they can come and shoot me, but I will continue my struggle against BJP and its policies." The Congress leader framed the video as a deliberate attempt by the ruling party to tarnish his public image and endanger national sovereignty and integrity.
Delayed FIR and Legal Ramifications
Rawat also highlighted procedural delays, claiming it took the police four hours to register his First Information Report (FIR). He contrasted this with Supreme Court directives, remarking, "Supreme Court says an FIR is the right of a common man, but I, as a former chief minister, had to wait four hours... You can imagine the treatment being meted out to the common man." He announced plans to meet the Dehradun District Magistrate and the state's Chief Electoral Officer to demand stringent action.
The police have registered a case against unidentified social media users under several serious sections:
- IT Act: Section 66D (cheating by personation) and Section 67 (transmitting obscene material).
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Sections 196 (promoting enmity), 299 (outraging religious feelings), and 353 (statements causing public mischief).
BJP's Response and Political Standoff
In response to the allegations, BJP's state media in-charge, Manveer Singh Chauhan, denied the party's involvement. Chauhan stated that the video in question was neither created by the BJP nor intended to malign anyone. "If any case has been registered by the former CM, it will be probed, as the party also wants such videos to be investigated and will follow due legal procedure," he added, distancing the party from the controversial content.
Circle Officer (Dalanwala) Anuj Arya confirmed the registration of the FIR based on Rawat's complaint. This incident underscores the escalating political tensions in Uttarakhand and raises critical questions about the misuse of artificial intelligence technology to create defamatory deepfake content for political gains. The case also tests the legal framework's preparedness to handle technologically advanced cyber offenses aimed at public figures.
