AAP leaders booked over alleged fake audio clip

Rajkot: The Surendranagar cybercrime police have registered a case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Gujarat state spokesperson Karan Barot, Vipul Thakor, and Swayam Salvi, following a complaint by 37-year-old former AAP member Raju Karpada, who alleged that a fabricated audio clip was circulated to defame him.Karpada, a resident of Dudhai village in Muli taluka, alleged that on Saturday he came across a press conference addressed by the accused, during which an audio clip was played. The clip purportedly suggested that Karpada had spoken with a BJP leader, planned to join the BJP, and had betrayed farmers.He claimed the allegations were "baseless and meaningless," asserting that the voice in the recording was not his. Karpada also alleged that electronic devices or artificial intelligence technology were used to fabricate the clip, which was then shared on the party's official social media platforms and Barot's Facebook account, damaging his reputation.Karpada and other AAP leaders had earlier led protests against the alleged Kadada practice in Botad district. Following the agitation incidents of stone-pelting at police personnel were reported in Haddad village, after which Karpada and several others were arrested and jailed for over three months.Last week, Karpada resigned from the AAP and levelled additional allegations against party leaders. Police said the investigation is ongoing.