Reported AI Hoax: Odisha Man Detained Over Fake Tiger Pugmarks and Video
According to reports, a man in Odisha, India, was detained for allegedly creating and circulating an AI-generated video and images falsely claiming a Royal Bengal Tiger was prowling near villages, which triggered widespread panic among residents.
Srikant Kumar Dhinda, 28, of Baniari village, Odisha, was reportedly detained by police for creating and circulating an AI-generated video and images on social media. The content falsely depicted a Royal Bengal Tiger near local sugarcane fields, claiming Dhinda had spotted the animal and captured its photos and video, along with fake pugmarks. This viral post allegedly caused massive panic among residents in dozens of villages in the Baniari-Saudia area. Following reports, forest department officials and police conducted a joint search operation but found no evidence of a tiger, concluding the media was fake and AI-generated. Balichandrapur police confirmed a case was registered, and Dhinda admitted to making and circulating the AI-generated content.