In a significant crackdown on digital misinformation, the Bihar Police on Friday arrested an individual for allegedly creating and circulating a fake, AI-generated video featuring fabricated voices of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Arrest and Seizure
The accused, identified as Pramod Kumar Raj, was apprehended from Muzaffarpur by a special cyber cell team. The police have seized the mobile phone that was reportedly used to create the deceptive video content. Authorities confirmed that the device is undergoing forensic examination to gather further digital evidence related to the case.
According to an official statement released by the Muzaffarpur police, the arrest was made promptly based on technical evidence. A special investigation team was constituted under the supervision of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muzaffarpur, with the Superintendent of Police (Cyber) leading the operation.
Political Links and Motive
Investigations have revealed that Pramod Kumar Raj was associated with the social media cell of the Jan Suraaj Party, which is led by political strategist Prashant Kishor. He had handled social media publicity for the party during the Bihar assembly elections held last year. Following the arrest, photographs of the accused posing with Prashant Kishor began circulating on various social media platforms.
The police statement outlined the serious intent behind the creation of the fake media. It alleged that the video was made "to spread misinformation among the public with an intent to undermine high Constitutional offices, shake public confidence in democratic institutions and disturb social harmony and public order." The authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the content being created for anti-national purposes or to spread malicious rumours.
Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications
The police have emphasized that further investigation in the sensitive case is actively underway. This incident highlights the growing challenge posed by advanced artificial intelligence tools in the hands of malicious actors aiming to disrupt the social fabric.
The arrest sends a strong message about the legal consequences of using technology to create deepfakes and synthetic media intended to impersonate high-ranking national figures and mislead the citizenry. The case underscores the critical need for public vigilance and robust cyber-policing mechanisms to combat digitally orchestrated threats to national integrity and social harmony.
