Udupi: Mahesh Shetty Timarodi sent to judicial custody
Udupi: Mahesh Shetty Timarodi, founder president of the Rashtriya Hindu Jagaran Vedike, has been placed under judicial custody in connection with allegations of making offensive remarks against BJP National Organising Secretary B.L. Santosh. Officials said his bail hearing is scheduled for August 23.
The complaint was filed by Udupi Rural BJP Mandal President Rajiv Kulal, who alleged that Shetty had used abusive language against B.L. Santosh on social media, spreading content that could create hostility among different religions and communities.
Following the complaint, Brahmavar police had registered a case and issued two notices directing Shetty to appear for questioning. When he did not respond, police visited his residence in Timarodi, Ujire, on Thursday morning and brought him to the station.
A team of officials, led by Udupi SP Hariram Shankar, questioned him from afternoon until evening. During this process, police formally arrested.
Before being presented in court, Shetty underwent a medical examination at the Brahmavar Community Health Centre. He was then produced before the Brahmavar court, where he was sent to judicial custody.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
