KARGIL: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, on Monday sought an official probe into the circulation of an AI-generated image falsely depicting him wearing a saffron stole carrying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) symbol, terming it a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
As the fabricated image gained traction on social media platforms, Dr Akhoon issued a categorical denial, asserting that the photograph was digitally manipulated and had no connection with reality.
Condemning what he described as a calculated act of misinformation, the CEC urged the public, media organisations and social media users not to circulate the image and to verify information before sharing content online.
Dr Akhoon has requested the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police, Kargil, to take immediate cognisance of the matter and identify those responsible for creating and disseminating the fabricated content.
He also appealed to citizens aware of the source or origin of the image to assist the authorities in tracing those behind its circulation.
Warning of legal consequences, the CEC said strict action would be initiated against individuals found involved in producing or spreading the fake image under the relevant provisions of law.
The episode has once again drawn attention to the growing misuse of artificial intelligence and digital manipulation technologies, which have increasingly been used to create misleading content targeting public personalities and institutions.
Officials are expected to examine the origin and circulation trail of the image as part of the proposed inquiry.
