Cong leader held for sharing AI image depicting Kerala CM with Sabarimala gold case accused

 

 

 

 

A CONGRESS leader was taken into custody on Saturday for allegedly sharing an AI-generated photograph depicting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with Unnikrishnan Potty, an accused in the Sabarimala gold case, police said. The Chevayoor police took N Subramanian, a member of the state unit of Congress’s Political Affairs Committee, into custody after registering a case against him. Later, a notice was issued to appear for the interrogation whenever required, and he was released, police said. Though police earlier said that his arrest was recorded, later they clarified that it was not. Subramanian was booked for sharing a post on a social media platform that included a photograph of the Chief Minister and Potty together, with a caption questioning the reason for their alleged close relationship.

 

As part of the probe, a police team reached Subramanian’s house on Saturday morning to record his statement. Later, it was decided to take him to the police station for detailed interrogation, officials said. “We contacted Subramanian multiple times on Friday, but he did not attend the calls. Later, his phone was found switched off at night. Hence, we took him into custody for the interrogation,” a police officer told PTI. Police officials denied the claim by Congress leaders that he had been arrested and released on bail. “Since only bailable offences were charged against him, we decided to give him a notice and interrogate him further later,” the officer said.

 

The CPI(M) has claimed that the picture circulating on social media is AI-generated. Meanwhile, before being taken to the police station, Subramanian told reporters that the picture he shared was not AI-generated, but was taken from a video released by the Chief Minister’s Office. “What the police say are the words of the government. They are branding everything as AI-generated,” he alleged. He further claimed that one of the photographs he posted was also seen on the social media account of BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on November 29, but no case was registered against him.

 

“I will try to prove the authenticity of the photograph. Anyway, the case will reach the court,” he said. Subramanian alleged that the government’s policy was to take action against people criticising the CM by sending them to jail. “People will not shut their mouths with such actions,” he said. He also said that in his social media post, he had mentioned that the photograph was taken from Facebook. “Let’s wait and see,” he added.

 

The Police said a case has been registered under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act for causing annoyance through communication. Congress activists led by Kozhikode DCC president K Praveenkumar held a protest in front of the police station, terming the police action as illegal and unreasonable, as only bailable sections were invoked against Subramanian. He alleged that police surrounded Subramanian’s house as if action was being taken against a hardcore criminal. “Subramanian was in Kozhikode, and the police could have served a notice instead of creating drama by surrounding his house.

 

The police will face the consequences of their actions,” he said. KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the Chief Minister’s Office was trampling upon democracy and freedom of expression by registering a case alleging incitement to riot against N Subramanian for sharing the picture. “Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is now leading Kerala on the path shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP Government.

 

These actions will not weaken or destroy democratic, secular Kerala, nor will they succeed in silencing the state,” he said. Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan, said fake campaigns using AI tools were mostly carried out by the CPI(M). “Mr Pinarayi Vijayan, who are you trying to scare? Are you trying to scare us? This is the end phase of your governance,” he said. He alleged that the government granted parole to a CPI(M) leader just a month after he was imprisoned for hurling explosives at police personnel. “You are in charge of the police and the Home department. Your DIG is accepting bribes and releasing prisoners on bail,” he alleged. Satheesan said the chief minister should not attempt to intimidate Congress workers, as they would not budge under such tactics. “If you act in an autocratic manner, we are not afraid of you. You will have to arrest all of us. Such a chief minister is a shame for Kerala,” he said.

 

He said the CPI(M) had failed to learn from the public warning delivered through the local body elections. “There is a bigger lesson waiting for you in the Assembly elections,” he said. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said that the police action against Subramanian has a purposeful agenda - to prevent anyone from posting anything against the chief minister on social media platforms. “Even after people taught a lesson to the chief minister in the local body election, he has not learnt anything. We are not scared of such action,” Chennithala said. While interacting with reporters, AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal said, “Police remain silent when cyber attacks are carried out against Sonia Gandhi and others, but they act with undue haste the moment Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is criticised. It is a double standard,” he said.