Sabarimala gold theft case: Congress leader held for sharing AI photo of CM with accused

A Congress leader was taken into custody on Saturday (December 27) for allegedly sharing an AI-generated photograph showing Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with Unnikrishnan Potty, an accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, police said.

Chevayoor police took N Subarahmanian of Karuvattoor, Political Affairs Committee member of the state unit of Congress, into custody after filing a case against him. He was booked for sharing a post on a social media platform carrying a photograph depicting the Chief Minister and Potty together, with a caption questioning the reason for their alleged close relationship.

Also Read: Photos of Sabarimala gold theft accused with Pinarayi, Sonia trigger row in Kerala

As part of the probe, a police team reached Subarahmanian’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.

'AI-generated photo?'

CPI(M) has contended that the picture circulating on social media is AI-generated. However, before being taken to the police station, Subarahmanian told reporters that the picture was not AI-generated, but was taken from a video released by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

Also Read: Sabarimala gold theft case: BJP alleges sacrilege, seeks CBI probe

“What the police say are the words of the government. They are branding everything as AI-generated,” he alleged, adding that one of the photographs he posted was also seen on the social media handle of BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on November 29. "However, no case was registered against him," Subarahmanian added.

“I will try to prove the authenticity of the photograph. Anyway, the case will reach the court,” he said.

Subarahmanian slams LDF

Subarahmanian 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, adding that in his social media post, he had mentioned that the photograph was taken from Facebook.

“Let’s wait and see,” he concluded.

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Police said a case has been registered under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act for causing annoyance through communication. Officials at Chevayoor police station said the offences charged were bailable. A decision on formally recording the arrest would be taken after interrogation, police added.