Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today filed a formal complaint at the Capital Police Station in Bhubaneswar seeking registration of an FIR against the operators of the social media account “Odianka Chhata” on Instagram and Facebook.
The complaint alleges that the account circulated AI-generated deepfake and voice-cloned videos targeting senior leader Sujata Rout Karthikeyan and other women leaders of the party.
The complaint, lodged by Amrita Mishra, states that on 18 October 2026, the account uploaded fabricated videos in which Karthikeyan’s voice was cloned, and she was shown calling the Principal of Kendrapada Autonomous College, threatening him with “dire consequences” and attempting to influence the outcome of student union elections.
The party has described the content as entirely manufactured, created with the sole intent to mislead the public, create discord, and damage her reputation, particularly since Biju Chatra Janata Dal (BCJD) had secured victories in a large number of colleges in Kendrapada district.
According to the complaint, the videos appeared soon after BCJD’s strong performance in student elections across more than 170 colleges, where the party claimed dominant wins. BJD leaders have argued that the content is part of a larger pattern of AI-generated attacks on party leaders, especially women, aimed at degrading their public image and discouraging women’s participation in politics.
The complaint invokes several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including forgery for the purpose of harming reputation (Section 336(4) read with Section 335), defamation (Section 356), insulting the modesty of a woman (Section 79), and statements conducing to public mischief (Section 353). It also cites Sections 66D and 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, relating to cheating by personation and transmission of objectionable material. The party has additionally sought action against anyone who may have facilitated, funded, or shared the content.
Among the specific demands made to police are: immediate registration of an FIR against the unknown operators of “Odianka Chhata”; obtaining account details from Meta Platforms; preservation and forensic examination of the electronic evidence; steps to block or remove the videos under Section 69A of the IT Act; and directions restraining the account from posting similar content while the investigation is underway.
In a press statement, BJD strongly condemned the misuse of artificial intelligence to create false statements and attack the dignity of a woman leader. Senior leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo, BCJD president Ipsita Sahu, media coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty, and several youth and student leaders were present when the complaint was filed.
The episode has once again highlighted growing concerns over the use of deepfake technology in political discourse in Odisha, particularly when it targets women in public life. Police are yet to officially comment on the registration of the case.
