ED seeks FIR against former Kerala CM Vijayan in graft investigation

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally requested the Kerala government to lodge a First Information Report (FIR) against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and associates, according to officials familiar with the matter. The letter, part of an ongoing financial investigation, has been transmitted to state authorities for appropriate legal action.

Simultaneously, Kerala Police are investigating nine separate complaints regarding an artificially-generated satirical video purportedly showing Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan in a compromising scenario with Kerala State Electricity Board workers. The deepfake content circulated on social media platforms, prompting law enforcement intervention.

Responding to the video incidents, Kerala Police have approached Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, seeking immediate removal of the misleading content from its platforms. Officials stated that such deepfake videos pose significant risks to public order and the reputation of public functionaries.

The cyber incidents highlight growing concerns across India about the misuse of artificial intelligence for creating deceptive multimedia content. Authorities are examining the technical aspects of the video's creation while pursuing cases under relevant sections of Indian law pertaining to defamation and fraud.