Nagpur (PTI): Police in Nagpur district have issued a notice to an Instagram user over an AI-generated video of a man making a tiger drink liquor, citing that the clip sent a wrong message and could damage the image of the wildlife reserve, where it was claimed to have been shot, an official said on Friday.
The six-second clip, which went viral on social media, showed an inebriated man giving liquor to a tiger and patting the big cat on an empty village street.
Several social media posts claimed the video had been shot in Madhya Pradesh and that the tiger had strayed from the Pench Tiger Reserve, and a 52-year-old drunk labourer mistook the animal for a giant cat.
The Nagpur Rural Police took cognisance of the matter because the reel was linked to the Pench Tiger Reserve, the official said.
According to the police, the reel was posted on October 30, and on verification, it was found that the clip was created using artificial intelligence.
"The reel sent a wrong message and could damage the image of the Tiger Reserve. It could also create confusion among tourists. It also shows a misleading action against wild animals," the police stated in a release.
Superintendent of Police Nagpur Rural, Dr Harssh Poddar, and Additional SP Anil Mhaske issued a notice under section 68 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to an Instagram account holder from Mumbai, the official said.
The video has since been removed from Instagram, he added.
The Nagpur Rural Police have appealed to citizens to stop sharing such fake content and have warned that action will be taken against those who create reels that defame wildlife reserves or spread misinformation.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
ALSO READ: Bantwal police arrest two men for illegal sale of narcotics, seize two vehicles, 810 gm ganja
According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
