Arvind Kejriwal faces controversy over morphed videos in Punjab, FIRs filed

LUDHIANA: After some videos of an 'old speech' by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar surfaced on social media platforms, especially on X (formerly Twitter), a controversy arose. The Punjab police lodged at least six FIRs in Ludhiana against a Delhi-based lawyer-cum-entrepreneur, Vibhor Anand, and five unidentified persons under charges of morphing Kejriwal's videos to hurt the sentiments of the SC/ST community and to malign his image.All these FIRs were lodged at six separate police stations in the Ludhiana commissionerate, based on complaints from various AAP leaders and supporters.The complainants stated to the police that some miscreants uploaded a video of Arvind Kejriwal on social media platforms in which his speech about Dr Ambedkar was tampered with. These morphed videos are hurting the sentiments of the SC/ST community and tarnishing Kejriwal's image.Two such complaints mention the X link of Delhi resident Vibhor Anand, in which he shared a video of Kejriwal.The FIRs were lodged under sections 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 336 (4) (forgery for the purpose of harming reputation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 353 (statement conducing to public mischief) of BNS and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.