One arrested for sharing morphed obscene video of Odisha CM on social media

Bhubaneswar: The Cyber Crime Unit of the Crime Branch has arrested a man from Rayagada district for allegedly posting a doctored and obscene video targeting the Chief Minister of Odisha on Facebook.

The case, registered under CID CB Cyber Crime PS Case No. 18/2025 dated June 17, 2025, involves multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act 2000, and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.

The action followed a complaint from a concerned citizen who reported the circulation of a morphed and objectionable video of the Chief Minister on Facebook. The video, allegedly AI-generated, portrayed the CM in an obscene and defamatory manner, with content that also undermined the dignity of a woman. The complainant claimed the video was deliberately doctored and widely circulated to malign the image of the Chief Minister among the public.

Upon receiving the complaint, the Cyber Crime Unit launched an immediate investigation. Meta Platforms (Facebook) was contacted to remove the offensive content, which was swiftly taken down. Investigators traced the origin of the video to a Facebook account operated by Kishore Kausalya, a resident of Keutaguda Station Sahi in Rayagada district. He is employed by a construction company in Tikri, Rayagada.

Acting promptly, a Crime Branch team travelled to Rayagada and arrested the accused on June 18, 2025. He was subsequently produced before the Court of the SDJM, Bhubaneswar.

Kausalya faces charges under Sections 78, 79, 294, 296, 336(2), 336(4), 340(2), and 356(2) of the BNS, read with Sections 66-C, 67, and 67-A of the IT Act, along with Section 3 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

The Crime Branch has reiterated that strict legal action will be taken against anyone found involved in publishing, sharing, or circulating such offensive and illegal content. Citizens are urged to exercise caution and responsibility in their use of social media platforms.