BJD Files Police Complaint Over Alleged Deepfake Videos Targeting Sujata Rout Karthikeyan
Bhubaneswar: The opposition leader Sujata Rout Karthikeyan, a senior leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has become the centre of a controversy after the party alleged that AI-generated deepfake videos were circulated on social media to tarnish her image.
In response, the party has filed a formal police complaint seeking legal action against those responsible.
The complaint was lodged at the Capital Police Station, Bhubaneswar, by BJD leader Amrita Mishra.
The party accused unidentified operators of the social media account “Odianka Chhata” on Facebook and Instagram of creating and disseminating manipulated videos using artificial intelligence and voice-cloning technology.
According to the complaint, one of the videos falsely portrayed Sujata Rout Karthikeyan allegedly threatening the principal of Kendrapara Autonomous College in connection with student union elections.
The BJD has dismissed the content as fabricated and misleading, claiming it was designed to damage the reputation of the senior leader and influence public perception.
The party has urged police to register an FIR, conduct a detailed investigation, identify the individuals behind the accounts, and preserve all digital evidence.
It has also sought forensic examination of the videos to determine their authenticity and trace their origins.
Additionally, BJD has requested law enforcement authorities to obtain relevant information from Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, through legal channels.
Describing the alleged misuse of artificial intelligence as a serious threat, the party said the circulation of fabricated content targeting a woman leader raises concerns about digital ethics, misinformation, and accountability on social media platforms.
The development comes in the aftermath of student union elections held across Odisha on October 15, with the party alleging that the deepfake content was aimed at politicising local campus-related issues.
