Thiruvananthapuram

The cyber wing of the Kerala Police has filed a case against social media platform X and a specific user account for allegedly circulating an AI-generated video portraying the Prime Minister and the Election Commission of India in a misleading and defamatory manner.

According to officials, the video relates to a controversy involving an Election Commission letter that reportedly carried the seal of a political party’s Kerala unit, an issue that has gained traction in the poll-bound state.

Police said the content, which has not yet been removed from the platform, came to their attention through official channels, including inputs from the Election Commission. After verification, authorities concluded that the video had the potential to mislead the public, damage the credibility of constitutional institutions, and affect the integrity of elections.

An FIR was registered late Wednesday night at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram against the account identified as Laxmi N Raju (@valiant_Raju), along with others, including the platform’s parent entity. The case invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, including sections related to forgery, public mischief, identity theft, and actions that may influence elections.

Investigators allege that the one-minute video was shared with the intent to provoke unrest, and that despite instructions from authorities, the platform did not promptly remove the content.

Legal notices have been issued to the intermediary seeking immediate takedown of the material. Meanwhile, the Cyber Operations Wing has taken steps to limit further circulation of the video in line with the Model Code of Conduct.

Authorities have urged citizens to avoid sharing unverified or misleading content, especially during the election period, warning that strict legal action will be taken against attempts to disrupt free and fair polls.

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The controversy first emerged after the CPI(M) highlighted on social media an affidavit attached to a 2019 Election Commission letter that mistakenly bore a party seal. The Commission later termed it a clerical error, stating it had been corrected and that the concerned official had been suspended.