A court in Jalandhar has issued a firm directive for the immediate removal of a digitally altered video featuring Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi. The court emphasized that the clip's circulation presents a clear and present danger to public order and religious harmony across Punjab.
Court Mandates Swift Action from Social Media Giants
The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Jalandhar passed this significant order on Thursday. It specifically targets social media platforms Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, along with X and Telegram. The court instructed these companies to take down the content linked to specific URLs without any delay.
The court stated that the allegedly offensive material must be removed forthwith. It mandated that removal should occur within 24 hours of receiving the official order. Furthermore, the court directed the state cybercrime department to block all identical, mirror, or derivative versions of the video as soon as they are detected.
Forensic Analysis Exposes Digital Manipulation
The viral video clip purported to show Atishi making objectionable remarks about the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, during Delhi Assembly proceedings. However, a thorough technical and forensic examination completely disproved its authenticity.
Police informed the court that social media experts initially used the AI-based tool Gemini to detect signs of digital tampering. Subsequently, the state Forensic Science Laboratory in Mohali conducted a detailed analysis.
The FSL report involved auditory and spectrographic analysis. It conclusively proved that Atishi never uttered the word "Guru" in her original speech. Investigators found that captions and edits were intentionally inserted to falsely attribute certain words to her. This manipulation severely distorted the context of her actual remarks made in the Delhi Assembly.
Legal Proceedings and Political Accusations
The case originated from an FIR registered on January 7 based on a complaint by Iqbal Singh Bagga, a local AAP leader from Jalandhar. Bagga alleged that the edited video was circulated with malicious intent on social media.
He named several political figures in his complaint, including Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, Congress leaders Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Pargat Singh, and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
The police have registered a case under serious legal provisions:
- Section 196(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for promoting enmity between groups on religious grounds.
- Section 353 for public mischief.
- Section 66(c) of the Information Technology Act, which deals with identity theft and misuse of computer resources.
Compliance and Ongoing Investigation
The court has given the social media platforms a strict deadline. They must submit a compliance report within 10 days, confirming they have removed the specified content. The controversy has already sparked strong reactions from various quarters, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
Authorities confirm that the investigation remains active and ongoing. They maintain that further legal action will be pursued based on the digital evidence collected and the roles of individuals involved in circulating the altered content. The court's order underscores the growing judicial scrutiny over manipulated media that threatens social cohesion.
