A massive controversy erupted in Punjab after an alleged obscene AI-generated deepfake video of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann went viral across social media platforms this week, prompting swift police and legal action. The state’s cybercrime branch in Mohali has filed an FIR against Jagman Samra, a Canada-based NRI originally from Sangrur, for allegedly creating and circulating the manipulated video content.
Police investigations have revealed that the video was fabricated using advanced artificial intelligence tools to depict the Chief Minister in an objectionable situation. According to the FIR lodged by Inspector Gagandeep Singh, the content was deliberately made to malign Mann’s image and stir social unrest. The accused has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, 2000, including provisions relating to forgery, defamation, spreading public mischief, and transmitting obscene material.
Samra reportedly uploaded the video on Facebook, claiming it to be genuine and offering a ₹5 crore (or $1 million) reward to anyone who could prove it was AI-generated. The Punjab cybercrime unit stated that the accused has a follower base of around 35,000, and previously shared several misleading and inflammatory posts targeting government officials and political leaders.
Following the virality of the clip, a Mohali court issued orders directing Facebook and Google to take down the video and preserve all digital evidence linked to the case. The court also warned that failure to remove such defamatory content could lead to legal penalties. The order was hailed by cyber experts as a landmark step toward tackling AI-driven misinformation and digital defamation.
Officials said the investigation has been prioritized, with teams currently tracing Samra’s IP address and digital footprints to determine the origin and technical methods used in creating the deepfake. Preliminary reports confirm that the manipulation was done using high-end AI editing tools, designed to mimic facial movements and voice tones nearly indistinguishably from real footage.
The state government and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) condemned the episode, describing it as a “politically motivated conspiracy” aimed at damaging the Chief Minister’s reputation ahead of key political developments. The police have urged the public not to share or forward such videos, warning that doing so constitutes a serious cybercrime under Indian law.
Authorities continue to monitor social media networks and have vowed strict action against those involved in producing or circulating synthetic content, calling it a “dangerous misuse of AI technology that threatens democracy and public trust.”