Cong leader held for sharing AI image depicting Kerala CM with Sabarimala gold case accused
Kozhikode (Kerala) (PTI): A Congress leader was arrested on Saturday for allegedly sharing an AI-generated photograph depicting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with Unnikrishnan Potty, an accused in the Sabarimala gold case, police said.
The Chevayoor police took N Subarahmanian, a member of the state unit of Congress's Political Affairs Committee, into custody after registering a case against him. Later, his arrest was recorded after the interrogation and he was released on station bail, police said.
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.
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.
The CPI(M) has claimed that the picture circulating on social media is AI-generated.
Before being taken to the police station, Subarahmanian told reporters that the picture he shared was not AI-generated, but was taken from a video released by the Chief Minister’s Office.
“What the police say are the words of the government. They are branding everything as AI-generated,” he alleged.
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He further claimed that one of the photographs he posted was also seen on the social media account of BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on November 29, but no case was registered against him.
“I will try to prove the authenticity of the photograph. Anyway, the case will reach the court,” he said.
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.
He also said that in his social media post, he had mentioned that the photograph was taken from Facebook. “Let’s wait and see,” he added.
The Police said a case has been registered under Section 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act for causing annoyance through communication.
Congress activists led by Kozhikode DCC president K Praveenkumar held a protest in front of the police station, terming the police action as illegal and unreasonable, as only bailable sections were invoked against Subarahmanian.
He alleged that police surrounded Subarahmanian’s house as if action was being taken against a hardcore criminal.
“Subarahmanian was in Kozhikode, and the police could have served a notice instead of creating drama by surrounding his house. The police will face the consequences of their actions,” he said.
KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the Chief Minister’s Office was trampling upon democracy and freedom of expression by registering a case alleging incitement to riot against N Subarahmanian for sharing the picture.
“Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is now leading Kerala along the same path shown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government. These actions will not weaken or destroy democratic and secular Kerala, nor will they succeed in silencing the state,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan, said fake campaigns using AI tools were mostly carried out by the CPI(M).
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“Mr Pinarayi Vijayan, who are you trying to scare? Are you trying to scare us? This is the end phase of your governance,” he said.
He alleged that a CPI(M) leader who was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for hurling explosives at police personnel was granted parole by the government just a month after being jailed in Kannur.
“You are in charge of the police and the Home department. Your DIG is accepting bribes and releasing prisoners on bail,” he alleged. Satheesan said the Chief Minister should not attempt to intimidate Congress workers, as they would not budge under such tactics.
“If you act in an autocratic manner, we are not afraid of you. You will have to arrest all of us. Such a chief minister is a shame for Kerala,” he said.
He said the CPI(M) had failed to learn from the public warning delivered through the local body elections.
“There is a bigger lesson waiting for you in the Assembly elections,” he said.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
