FIR filed over AI video targeting Uttarakhand ex-CM Harish Rawat, BJP denies role

The reel, posted on December 18, purportedly showed Rawat handing land to a minority community, with an audio clip resembling Rawat’s voice playing in the background.

In his complaint, Rawat accused the BJP Uttarakhand state president and other associate members of operating the social media page on which the video was uploaded.

“The said video hurts religious sentiments and attempts to endanger the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. From viewing the video, it is evident that it is a malicious and hateful act, published and circulated with the intent to insult the religion or religious beliefs of a class and to provoke religious sentiments,” he said, adding that he has been portrayed as “anti-national”.

The FIR, registered at Nehru Colony police station, has been filed under provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

In 2022, ahead of the assembly election, the Election Commission had issued a notice to the Uttarakhand BJP for alleged violation of the model code of conduct and asked it to reply within 24 hours for tweeting a morphed image of Rawat. The action followed a complaint by the Congress, which alleged that the BJP Uttarakhand had falsely depicted Rawat as belonging to a particular community.

Uttarakhand BJP media in-charge Manveer Chauhan denied that the party had anything to do with the video, instead accusing Rawat of taking recourse to legal proceedings to “divert attention from the issue of appeasement”.

“The BJP will fully comply with the legal process and respond to the allegations through constitutionally prescribed procedures. Frustrated by the people’s mandate, Harada (as Rawat is addressed in the state) is fabricating allegations against the BJP,” Chauhan said.

He further said: “On every decision taken by the state—be it the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), anti-conversion law, anti-riot law, cow slaughter, or action against illegal religious encroachments—Harada has been seen opposing the government.”