Chongtham Vikram Singh deepfake video — Sep 2026

In September 2026, the Indian news channel Times Now broadcast a generative AI-powered recreation of the mob lynching of 54-year-old musician Chongtham Vikram Singh. The segment featured a digital avatar of the victim being chased and beaten in a continuous loop, accompanied by sensationalist text, to illustrate the final moments of his death in Delhi.

What happened

Times Now used generative AI tools to synthesize the violent scene, bypassing traditional production requirements like actors or sets. The broadcast depicted the victim in a stairwell being surrounded and attacked, with synthetically generated blood shown on screen. While the channel included a small "AI-GENERATED" disclaimer in the corner, critics argued that the hyper-realistic nature of the footage was intended to maximize emotional impact and audience engagement.

This incident highlights a growing trend in television news where synthetic media is used to dramatize crime rather than report verified facts. By using AI, the newsroom essentially created a fictionalized version of events, "guessing" details like specific physical interactions and facial expressions that were never recorded. The broadcast caused significant distress to the victim's family, leading political activist Angellica Aribam to issue a legal notice demanding the removal of the video. Despite the public backlash and the family's plea for space, the news organization did not issue a public statement addressing the criticism. Experts note that such content exploits the human brain's mirror neuron system, creating a state of hyper-attention in viewers and potentially eroding public empathy. The incident underscores a significant regulatory blind spot in Indian media, as newsrooms currently lack standardized policies regarding the use of generative AI in journalism, allowing for the repackaging of human tragedy into sensationalist spectacles for ratings.