Defamatory video targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CEC; Kerala police register case against X

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A case was registered against social media platform X for allegedly attempting to provoke a riot after rejecting the police's ultimatum to remove a fake video that defamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A case was registered at the Thiruvananthapuram City Cybercrime Station against Laxmi N Raju alias "Laxmi N Raju (@valiant_Raju)" X account and X Corporation as the first and second accused for making a fake video and circulating it on X with the intention of causing riots. Sections 353(2), 336(4), 353, 353(1)(b), 3(5), 174 of the Indian Penal Code and 66C of the IT Act have been charged.

Lakshmi N Raju made a fake 1.17-minute video of the Prime Minister and the Chief Election Commissioner using Artificial Intelligence. It was circulated on the social media platform X at 12.50 pm on the 25th. The police had issued a notice under the IT Act as per the Election Commission's instructions to remove it within three hours. X did not accept it. With this, the police suo motu registered a case.

Inspector M.K. Shaji was named as the complainant in the FIR. The FIR, complaint and related documents were sent to the court. Inspector T.S. Sivaprakash is the investigating officer.

The police found that the content of the video was misleading to the people, undermined the credibility of constitutional institutions and adversely affected the functioning of the electoral system. The video was asked to be removed in accordance with the model code of conduct and legal provisions.

320 Facebook posts, 40 X posts and 59 Instagram posts against the Election Commission have been removed. Notices have been issued to about 500 social media accounts. The action is as per the instructions of the Election Commission.