Vidhana Soudha deepfake video — Oct 2024

On October 20, 2024, a viral video depicting a bomb blast at the Vidhana Soudha, the high-security building housing the Karnataka state legislature, triggered widespread public alarm and police intervention. Authorities confirmed that the footage was entirely synthetic and that no actual explosion had occurred at the site.

What happened

The incident involved a migrant laborer from Bihar, identified as Ali, who allegedly created and disseminated the fabricated content. The video, which circulated on Instagram via the account 'Jnx king Hg,' featured a person miming a trigger pull followed by a visual sequence showing the destruction of the Vidhana Soudha. The post included a caption claiming responsibility for the explosion.

After users tagged the Bengaluru Police and demanded action, officials launched an investigation into the source of the clip. The Instagram account used to host the video was subsequently deactivated, and an FIR was registered against the accused. Police are currently interrogating the individual to determine the motive behind the creation of the threatening content. Officials have issued a formal warning regarding the misuse of AI tools to generate synthetic media that creates public panic and poses significant security concerns.