Satheesan slams Subramanian's arrest, questions why no case against CPM leaders who misuse AI

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan on Saturday condemned the arrest of senior Congress leader N Subrahmanian for allegedly circulating an AI-generated image of Sabarimala gold theft accused Unnikrishnan Potty and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"CPM has misused AI tools the most. Just the other week, AI-generated images of me, Ramesh Chennithala, K C Venugopal, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi were circulated, showing us dancing," Satheesan said. "After the local body polls, CPM workers claimed that Congress leaders were fighting among themselves over who should be the next Chief Minister and created an AI image of us boxing. Where was the case then? CPM workers are using these tactics themselves. So, what authority does the government have to arrest N Subrahmanian?"

The Chevayur Police arrested Subrahmanian on Saturday for allegedly circulating the AI-generated image of Unnikrishnan Potty and the Chief Minister. A police team visited Subrahmanian’s residence in the morning to record his statement, and later took him to the police station for further interrogation. Subrahmanian denied the charges, asserting that the images were authentic.

Satheesan addressed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying, "Mr Pinarayi Vijayan, who are you trying to scare? Why is the government treating a senior Congress leader posting on social media the same as a criminal, when actual criminals are roaming free?" He criticised the government's handling of law and order, citing the parole granted to a CPM worker sentenced to 20 years for throwing bombs at a police jeep. "The DIG is accepting bribes and granting parole to everyone," he alleged. He further stated, "The accused in the T P Chandrasekaran murder case are roaming freely, and criminals in jail are being provided with drugs. Yet a person who posted on social media is being jailed. This is nothing but autocratic rule."

"Mr Pinarayi Vijayan, you are a disgrace to Kerala. The people have already given you a warning in the local body polls, and the final verdict will come in 2026," Satheesan said. "If this is how it is going, you will have to arrest all of us at our residences," he added.