Silchar: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police has arrested three Congress party leaders for allegedly circulating an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video featuring Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
However, CID Special Director General of Police (DGP) Munna Prasad Gupta said they were granted bail after appearing in the Kamrup District Court on Friday.
Majuli district council social media and IT wing chairman Jibeswar Gam (27), Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) spokesperson Upen Raj Nath and Rupohi MP Shahidul Islam (29) were arrested separately from Majuli and other districts between Wednesday and Thursday.
Police said they will be taken to Guwahati for further interrogation.
Senior Congress spokesperson Raju Sahu was summoned for questioning but was not arrested, CID officials said.
A video edited in the style of the quiz show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ has gone viral on social media. The Prime Minister’s Office (CMO) later clarified that the video was fake and artificially generated.
CMO’s official X-handle posted on November 26, “Warning! A fake and fabricated video is being circulated by some netizens to defame CM Dr. @himantabiswa. This claim is completely baseless. We urge everyone to be cautious and avoid sharing unverified content. Those who create or disseminate such false information will face legal action.”
Following the post, a case was registered in the CID’s cyber cell under Sections 319(2) (fraud by impersonation), 336(4) (forgery with intent to defame), 356(2) (defamation) and 61(2) (collusion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS) 2023.
Additionally, Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (fraud by impersonation using computer resources) was also invoked.
CID officials said the arrests were made for disseminating altered content with the intent to mislead the public and that further investigation was underway.
