December 2023 - Page 5 of 40 - Lokmarg

Priyanka’s Name In ED’s PMLA Case Charge-Sheet

By LokMarg 28th December 2023

In a first, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in its charge sheet mentioning her role of purchasing an agricultural land measuring 40 kanal (five acres) in Haryana’s Faridabad from a Delhi-based real estate agent HL Pahwa in 2006 and sold the same land to him in February, 2010.

According to the ED, the land was purchased in Amipur village in Faridabad from Pahwa– the agent with whom Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra also purchased three pieces of land measuring 334 kanals (40.08 acres) in Amipur village from 2005-2006 and sold the same land to him in December, 2010.

The agent is the same person who also sold land to NRI businessman CC Thampi. The larger case involves fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who is under investigation by multiple agencies for money-laundering, violation of foreign exchange and black money laws, and the Official Secrets Act. He fled India for the UK in 2016. Thampi has been accused of facilitating Bhandari to hide proceeds of crime, along with Sumit Chadha, a British national.

ED has named Robert Vadra in its earlier charge sheet related to the case as an alleged close aide of Thampi.

In the fresh charge-sheet, it is mentioned that Pahwa was receiving cash out of the books for the purpose of acquisition of land. “It was also noticed that Robert Vadra did not pay the entire sale consideration to Pahwa.”

The ED investigation in this regard is still ongoing. However, the copy of “the ledger accounts in the books of Pahwa reflecting the above mentioned transactions were taken on record vide letter dated November 17, 2023.”

“It is submitted that Robert Vadra incorporated entities with the names of Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd and Sky Light Realty Pvt Ltd in India on November 1, 2007 and November 16, 2007 respectively. The same have been downloaded from the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Whereas, an entity nemed Sky Lite Investment FZE in UAE was incorporated on April 1, 2009 with CC Thampi as its sole shareholder,” mentions the charge-sheet.

“During the course of investigation of Thampi and his Indian eatities in the case bearing no. T-3/219/HQ/2015 being investigation under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) it has been found that Thampi purchased land 486 actes (approx.) from 2005 to 2008 in village Amipur in Haryana’s Faridabed district through one HL Pahwa, Delhi NCR based real estate agent.”

It is also mentioned in the charge-sheet that Robert Vadra incorporated an entity in India with the name Blve Breeze Trading Pvt Ltd on November 1, 2007 which was later converted into LLP. “The email ID of the said entity has always remained as bivebreezetrading@zmall.com ic. when it was a Private Limited entity and later when it got converted into an LLP. The incorporation documents of the said entities were downloaded from the website of Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It is the same email id on which one Beena, employes of CC Thampi in Dubai used to communicate in connection with the property 12 Bryanston Square, London,” mentions the charge-sheet.

“During the course of investigation in another PMLA case (bearing fo. ECIR/OG/HIU2018) being investigated against Robert Vadra, his entity Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, and others, it has been found that one Mahesh Nagar, resident of Delhi NCR, represented various entities of Robert Vadre at the time of purchase and sale of various pieces of land in Delhi-NCR and Bikaner, Rajasthan,” it pointed.

In a statement, the ED on Tuesday, had also mentioned Robert Vadra in connection with the purchase of a property in London that is part of the probe.

Detailing the association between Vadra and Thampi, the charge sheet states, “During the course of investigation in this case, it is found that a long and thick relationship exists between CC Thampi and Robert Vadra. Not only a personal/cordial bond but common and similar business interests are also found between them.”

Thampi, arrested in January 2020, ostensibly told ED that he knew Vadra for over 10 years and that they met several times during Vadra’s visits to the UAE as well as in Delhi. (ANI)

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Let individuals make reasonable choice: Tharoor Amid Participation Of Oppn Leaders At Ram Temple

By LokMarg 28th December 2023

Amid the row over the Left skipping out of the grand consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 and doubts around the participation of other top Opposition leaders invited to the event, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said the invitees should be able to make their choice in the matter.

The senior Congress leader said the Opposition leaders should not be branded ‘anti-Hindu’ if they don’t attend the consecration of the Ram Temple and neither should they be seen to be “playing into BJP hands” if they do.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the Thiruvananthapuram MP, taking a dig at a section of the media, said, “(There are attempts at) Putting the Congress leadership in a box and saying that if you go, that means you are playing into the hands of the BJP. If you don’t go, that means you are anti-Hindu. Let the individuals make a reasonable choice,” Tharoor said on Thursday.

On whether giving the consecration of the Ram Temple a miss could hurt the prospects of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha polls next year, Tharoor said, “People are trying to make it a political issue but is that fair?”

“Going to a temple is an individual decision. Individuals have been invited, let them make their own decisions. To my mind, a temple is absolutely not a political stage, it is a place for people to contemplate the divine and do their prayers and it is a personal choice. Individuals have been invited and letting individuals decide if they wish to go is my stand,” the Congress MP added.

Claiming that he was yet to receive a formal invite to attend the Ram Temple consecration, Tharoor said, “As far as I am concerned, I have not been invited, so I don’t have to make the decision. But my own view is that I don’t think of the temple as a political stage and if it is a political event, then it is not the same as going to the temple to pray. Going to the temple to pray to my mind is a different exercise. From going to the temple to attend a huge political gathering for political speeches led by political politicians, or for those reasons, I am not terribly inclined to see the issue in those terms.”

The MP informed further that three or four members of his party have been invited to the event.

“In my mind, let individuals make their own decision, as it is a personal choice. If the party takes a collective decision, they will let us know, but right now, three or four members have been invited from the party, and they will certainly be making the decisions,” Tharoor added.

Earlier, the chairman of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Construction Committee invited former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for the consecration ceremony.

However, the attendance of senior Congress leaders has not yet been confirmed by the party.

The ceremony, scheduled for January 22, will witness the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the grand temple opening, several dignitaries from all walks of life are also expected to attend the event.

The temple trust has also invited 4,000 saints of all sects for the ceremony.

The trust has decided to enthrone the idol of Lord Ram inside the sanctum sanctorum between noon and 12.45 pm on January 22.

Lakshmi Kant Dixit, a Vedic priest, is scheduled to perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony on January 22. (ANI)

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India Records Six Covid-19 Deaths, Total Active Caseload At 4,097

By LokMarg 28th December 2023

India recorded 692 fresh cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. The total active caseload increased by four, reaching 4,097, according to Union Health Ministry data.

As per official data, six deaths have been reported in the country in the last 24 hours – two in Maharashtra, and one each in Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, and West Bengal.

With this, the total count of coronavirus cases in India since its outbreak in January 2020 has reached 4,50,10,944, with an increase of 702 cases in the last 24 hours. The total death toll due to COVID-19 cases in India has risen to 5,33,346, reflecting an increase of six deaths in the last 24 hours.

On Wednesday, Delhi reported its first case of the COVID-19 sub-variant JN.1.

“Delhi reports the first case of JN.1, a Sub-Variant of Omicron. Out of the three samples sent for Genome Sequencing, one is JN.1, and two are Omicron,” Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said.

Notably, the JN.1 sub-variant is a descendant of the Omicron subvariant known as BA.2.86 or Pirola. The first case of the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 was reported in Kerala.

A total of 109 cases of the JN.1 sub-variant have been detected in India until Wednesday, as per Health Ministry sources. However, the World Health Organisation emphasized that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi has issued guidelines for COVID-19 suspected or positive cases that will be reported at hospitals following the sudden surge in the cases of Coronavirus in the country.

AIIMS Delhi director held a meeting with all heads of departments of the hospital on COVID-19 contingency measures on Wednesday. In the meeting, policies on COVID-19 testing, the areas to be designated for positive patients, and their hospitalization were discussed. (ANI)

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Ayodhya: Booking To Avail ‘Aarti’ Passes For Ram Temple Begins

By LokMarg 28th December 2023

The booking for obtaining ‘aarti’ passes kicked off on Thursday at the Ram Janmobhoomi temple ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22.

Aartis are performed three times a day (6:30 am, 12 pm, 7:30 pm) for Lord Ram Lalla for which passes are generated for the devotees, the section manager for ‘Aarti pass’, Dhruvesh Mishra, said.

“At Ram Janmabhoomi, aarti is held three times a day for Lord Ram Lalla — at 6.30 in the morning, at noon and in the evening at 7.30. In the morning, Sringar aarti takes place, which is followed by Bhog aarti in the afternoon and Sandhya aarti in the evening. Only pass-holders can attend the three aartis,” Mishra told ANI on Thursday.

On the number of people who can attend an ‘aarti’ at one time, Mishra said, “Right now, only 30 people are allowed to attend each aarti with a pass. This number could be increased as per the number of devotees in future.”

On the reasons for the limited number of devotees for the ‘aarti’ ritual, Mishra said, “We have a limited number of passes for now for the sake of protection of the temple premises and security reasons.”

On whether the passes could be generated free of cost, the section manager said, “The service is the same for all the devotees, whether elderly or young, poor or rich.”

Mishra said the online facility for generating the ‘aarti’ passes started a few days ago. Devotees can generate their passes online, collect them from the counter at Ayodhya and proceed for the ‘aarti’, he said.

“The online facility started a few days back. One can apply for the aarti pass on the official portal of the Ram Janmaboomi temple. A time limit has been allotted for the same. Devotees can generate their passes online, receive it there and then head straight for the ‘aarti’,” Mishra said.

On the documents needed for getting the ‘aarti’ passes, the manager said, “Only four documents are admissible for generating the aarti pass. These are Aadhar card, voter ID, driving licence and passport. Of these, the devotees are required to carry just one. They can show it to the official after receiving their aarti passes.”

The grand consecration ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla is scheduled for January 22 next year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address attendees at the grand event from the front of the ‘Singh Dwar’, the main entrance to the temple, sources said earlier on Thursday.

According to sources, lakhs of devotees are likely to pour into the temple town for the January 22 consecration. (ANI)

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Modi To Address Ram Temple Consecration From ‘Singh Dwar’

By LokMarg 28th December 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address attendees at the grand consecration event of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya from the front of the ‘Singh Dwar’, the main entrance to the temple, sources said on Thursday.

PM Modi will throw the gates of the grand temple open for visitors at the consecration event on January 22, next year.

According to sources, lakhs of devotees are likely to pour into the temple town for the January 22 consecration.

Meanwhile, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust entrusted with the construction and management of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, is scheduled to hold a meeting today.

According to sources, the discussions will centre on the idol of Lord Ram, which will be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple at the grand opening or consecration of the shrine on January 22.

Preparations for the consecration ceremony of the temple on January 22 will also be discussed in detail during the meeting, the sources added.

There will be another meeting of the trust to select the idol of Ram Lalla.

Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya participated in the cleanliness campaign drive in the temple city ahead of the grand event.

While speaking to reporters, he said, “With the resolve, Swachh Rahe Shri Ram Ka Dham’ (Lord Ram’s place should be cleaned) the cleanliness campaign is going on in Ayodhya and today we have launched the cleanliness campaign. Everyone together will keep Ayodhya clean.”

Earlier, on Wednesday, trust secretary Champat Rai said that a 51-inch tall idol of Lord Ram reflecting a five-year-old Ram Lalla — would be selected among three designs.

“The one which has the best divineness and has a child-like look about it will be selected,” he said.

Rai, describing the map of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple, said a total of 21-22 lakh cubic feet of stone has been used in the construction of the entire structure. “Such a big stone structure has never been built in North or South India even in the last 100-200 years,” he said.

“A foundation of 56-layered artificial rock, created by engineers, has been laid below the structure. Second, a plinth comprising 17000 granite blocks from Karnataka and Telangana has been laid across 21 feet above the ground. Around five lakh cubic feet of pink-coloured sandstone sourced from Bharatpur, Rajasthan have been used to construct the temple structure. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple is made up of pure white Makrana marble, which is ready,” he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive at the temple city on Saturday to inaugurate the Ayodhya airport and the railway station, which is being revamped especially on the temple model. (ANI)

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AllMS Delhi Issues Guidelines For Covid-19 Suspected And Positive Patients

By LokMarg 27th December 2023

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) of Delhi has issued guidelines for Covid-19 suspected or positive cases that will be reported at hospitals following the sudden surge in the cases of Coronavirus in the country.

AIIMS Delhi director held a meeting with all heads of departments of the hospital on COVID-19 contingency measures on Wednesday. In the meeting, policy on COVID-19 testing, the areas to be designated for positive patients and their hospitalisation was discussed.

As per the policy on COVID-19 testing, directed by the management, testing will be done for patients with SARI (severe acute respiratory infection) like symptoms that include according to the WHO, acute respiratory infection, persistent fever or fever of >= 38 C° with cough and onset within last 10 days.

The office memorandum was issued after the meeting.

It further asked all the departments at the institution to make provisions in their respective designated wards to manage in-patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.

“12 beds in the C6 ward will be earmarked for hospitalization of seriously ill COVID-19 patients,” the memorandum said.

It also said that a screening OPD in the Emergency Department will screen patients for COVID-like symptoms and triage them same based on the medical requirements.

“Rooms no 1 to 12 in the new private ward are to be earmarked for hospitalization of COVID-19 positive EHS beneficiaries,” it added.

“Engineering works in the New Blocks, Masjid Moth Campus–The ESD is required to install UVGA filters and HEPA filters in all the new blocks situated in the Masjid Moth Campus at the earliest,” it said further.

Notably, the national capital has reported the first case of JN.1 variant infection.

“Delhi has reported the first case of JN.1, a Sub-Variant of Omicron. Out of the 3 samples sent for Genome Sequencing, one is JN.1 and the other two are Omicron,” Bharadwaj told ANI.

Meanwhile, a total of 109 JN.1 COVID variant cases have been reported in the country as of December 26, Health Ministry sources said on Wednesday.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified JN.1 as a variant of interest, distinct from its parent lineage BA.2.86. However, the global health body emphasised that the overall risk posed by JN.1 remains low based on current evidence. (ANI)

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Salman Greets Fans Gathered Outside Galaxy Apart On 58th B’day

By LokMarg 27th December 2023

On the occasion of Salman Khan’s 58th birthday, the actor along with his father Salim Khan greeted the fans standing outside his residence, Galaxy apartment, in Mumbai.

The ‘Dabangg’ actor was seen waving at his fans from his balcony, however, his father was seen standing behind him.

Several pictures and videos surfaced on social media.

The ‘Sultan’ actor was seen donning a casual grey t-shirt.

Starstruck fans from various cities queued at his Mumbai residence since morning to wish the star in their own special ways. Many even carried sweets, t-shirts, huge posters of Salman along with them.

In the early hours of Wednesday, the Khan family hosted a party at Arpita Khan Sharma’s residence in Mumbai to celebrate Salman and his niece Ayat’s birthday.

The duo cut the cakes at an intimate birthday bash in the presence of family and close friends.

Several videos went viral giving a glimpse of Salman’s midnight birthday celebration.

In the videos, looking handsome as always, the ‘Dabangg’ actor wore a black shirt paired with blue jeans.

He was also seen singing the birthday song for his niece as she cut her large cake with dad Aayush Sharma and mom Arpita Khan.

The bash was attended by Lulia Vantur, Arbaaz Khan, Arbaaz Khan’s son Arhaan Khan, Sohail Khan, Helen, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, Aayush Sharma, Arpita Khan Sharma, Bobby Deol and more.

Salman returned to Mumbai in the early hours of Wednesday to celebrate his birthday with friends and family.

The birthday celebrations in the Khan family come just days after Arbaaz tied the knot on Sunday with Sshura Khan.

Salman recently attended the intimate nikah ceremony of his brother-actor Arbaaz Khan and Sshura Khan at his sister Arpita Khan Sharma’s residence in Mumbai.

The complete Khan family including Salman, Sohail, Salim Khan, Salma Khan, Helen, Alvira Agnihotri, Atul Agnihotri along with their friends Raveena Tandon, Riddhima Pandit, Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh attended the nikah ceremony of Arbaaz and Sshura.

Meanwhile, on the film front, Salman was recently seen in the action thriller film ‘Tiger 3’.

Helmed by Maneesh Sharma, the film also starred Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi in the lead roles.

Talking exclusively about the massive box office collection of ‘Tiger 3’, Salman told ANI, “It was Diwali time and the World Cup was going on and everyone’s interest was in that but despite that the numbers that we have received are wonderful…we’re very grateful and happy about it.”

‘Tiger 3’ is the third installment of the Tiger franchise and a part of the YRF Spy Universe with the likes of ‘War’ and ‘Pathaan’.

However, Salman has still not announced his next project. (ANI)

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Dhankhar Hails Passage Of New Criminal Laws

By LokMarg 27th December 2023

Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said that the new criminal laws passed by the Parliament have unshackled the Indian criminal justice system from the colonial legacy while keeping the focus on justice rather than punishment.

“Just a few days ago, three new criminal law bills received the assent of the President of India. The new laws have unshackled the Indian criminal justice system from the colonial legacy while keeping the focus on justice rather than punishment,” Dhankhar said.

Dhankhar was speaking after releasing a special postal cover to celebrate the 100th anniversary of legal luminary late Justice Konda Madhav Reddy at a college in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

The programme was presided over by Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry.

“Friends, it (the passage of the laws) marks a monumental, revolutionary change from Dand Vidhan to Nyaya Vidhan,” he added.

Asserting that all three organs – the Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislature are performing commendably and catalyzing the unprecedented rise of the country, Dhankhar said that the legal landscape of the country has been undergoing a great affirmative change in recent months, which will have a tremendous positive impact on its progress, and on the welfare of one-sixth of humanity.

“During the past decade, significant strides have been made in the judicial system, emphasizing digitalization through the e-Courts Project and the National Judicial Data Grid. These have not only enhanced transparency and accessibility, but have resulted in a reduction in the pendency of cases. Major legal reforms included the establishment of Commercial Courts and amendments to arbitration laws, aiming at faster dispute resolution. Initiatives like National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) have been taken to strengthen legal aid mechanisms for the underprivileged sections of society, ensuring access to justice for all,” he added.

What is further noteworthy is that under the current Chief Justice of India, the Supreme Court has taken several critical steps including bringing justice to people in their own language, he said, adding that the SC has gone paperless, and even the Courts (including advocates) are performing paperless.

“99 per cent of the District Courts are connected to the respective High Courts, and the High Courts are moving towards a paperless ecosystem,” he said.

Dhankhar also said that the passing of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam by Parliament was another landmark in our legal landscape.

“This law marks a long-overdue measure that will give women their rightful space in our democracy, and amplify the voice of one-half of our society,” he added.

The Rajya Sabha on December 21 passed the three criminal bills–the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023; and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023–replacing the IPC, the CrPC and the Evidence Act. The bills were earlier passed by the Lok Sabha.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will have 358 sections (instead of 511 sections in the IPC). A total of 20 new crimes have been added to the bill, and the imprisonment sentence has been increased for 33 of them.

The amount of the fine has been increased in 83 crimes and mandatory minimum punishment has been introduced in 23 crimes. The penalty of community service has been introduced for six crimes and 19 sections have been repealed or removed from the bill.

The bills were first introduced during the Monsoon session of Parliament in August. After the Standing Committee on Home Affairs made several recommendations, the government decided to withdraw the bills and introduced their redrafted versions last week. (ANI)

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov UNSC

Lavrov Bats For India’s Permanent Seat At UNSC

By LokMarg 27th December 2023

Hailing the G20 communique under New Delhi’s presidency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed Moscow’s support for India’s candidacy as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

He said that the New Delhi Declaration in September this year perfectly reflected the balance of interest of global powers.

“The G20 Summit in New Delhi that took place last year was truly a triumph for Indian foreign policy, the triumph for multilateral diplomacy, and it was possible primarily due to the chairmanship of G20. It didn’t allow the final communique to be one-sided, it reflects the perfect balance of interest,” Lavrov said while addressing the joint press conference with EAM Jaishankar in Moscow on Wednesday.

“This is an example of how G20 and other groups should be working and…this includes the UN and the Security Council. We support India’s candidacy for the Security Council,” he added.

He also said that taking note of multilateral cooperation, Russia supports India’s aspiration as a permanent UNSC member along with representatives of Latin America and Africa.

Speaking on the bilateral meeting between the two leaders, the Russian Foreign Minister further said that the two leaders discussed energy cooperation and piloted space programmes.

“We reaffirmed our aspiration to strengthen energy cooperation. This is a strategic area of our relations. We agreed on the expansion of exports of hydrocarbons to the Indian market as well as cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy. First of all, the implementation of the Karnakulam Nuclear Plant project. This is our practical contribution to India’s activities and work to satisfy its needs for clean and safe energy produced in the country,” Lavrov said.

He added, “We have a positive outlook for cooperation in piloted space programmes, as well as rocket engines, satellite navigation systems. We have also touched upon regional and international affairs”.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his address, appreciated the India-Russia trade, which is at an all-time high, and said that the negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union will resume in January next year.

The Eurasian Economic Union is an economic union of five post-Soviet states located in Eurasia. The five member nations are; Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

He further said that the relationship between New Delhi and Moscow remains very steady, and strong and is based on strategic convergence on geopolitical interests. (ANI)

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‘Deep Fakes Threat Must Be Fought With Tech & Legal Devices’

By LokMarg 27th December 2023

Shakti Singh Tanwar, a cyber security & tech expert, says use of Deep Fakes throws up possibilities that are both fascinating and scary. His views:

In the realm of multimedia graphics, technological advancements have ushered in a new era, one that blurs the lines between reality and fiction. Deep Fakes, a portmanteau of “deep learning” (processing data like human brain) and “fake”, have emerged as a cutting-edge technique in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. As a multimedia graphics expert, I find myself grappling with the implications of this technology, understanding how it is executed, and acknowledging the inherent dangers that come with it.

So, what is a Deep Fake? It is fabricated media (audio/videos) created by using deep learning models. The model is trained in the voices and mannerism of an individual to generate fake video/audio of the person concerned. Depending on how trained the model is, it’s difficult to distinguish fake videos from real ones. One recent example of this that has been in news was a fake video of Rashmika Mandanna.

Deep Fakes involve the use of deep learning algorithms to create realistic and often convincing manipulations of audio and visual content. By leveraging powerful neural networks, these algorithms can seamlessly replace faces, voices, or even entire scenarios in videos.

The complex process typically involves training the AI model on vast datasets of images and videos, allowing it to learn the subtle nuances of facial expressions, voice tones, and other distinctive features.

The danger lies not only in the potential for misuse but also in the sophistication of the technology, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between the authentic and the manipulated content. This has prompted global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to issue warnings about the risks associated with Deep Fakes. Deep Fakes pose a threat to the foundations of trust and authenticity in an increasingly digitalized society.

The creation of Deep Fakes requires a deep understanding of AI, machine learning, and multimedia graphics. Advanced tools, such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), are employed to refine the realism of manipulated content by pitting two neural networks against each other—one generating Deep Fakes, and the other discerning real from fake.

Artificial Intelligence has been the buzz word for some time now. More than 750 startups have started to work on AI-related stuff in last one year in the US itself. Given the powers AI possess, the number is expected to grow. But with great powers comes great responsibility.

ALSO READ: ‘Govt Must Take Note Of Deep Fake Menace’

Some key aspects that are involved in deep fakes are generating realistic images/videos and audios, face swapping etc. It’s very easy to superimpose one face to another body – something done so far with Photoshop for fun. But Photoshop results were not convincing and one could only manipulate still images. With deep fakes we can manipulate full length videos as well.

Deep Fakes are illegal and have huge consequences. In today’s world which heavily relies on social media tools for information it is easy to spread hoaxe and panic in society. Lots of people have recently raised voices regarding misuse of Deep Fakes, including Prime Minister Modi and Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan.

There have been efforts to develop tools and techniques that can detect Deep Fakes. Some approaches and tools to identify deep fakes are: 1) Microsoft Video Authenticator (Not available for general use); 2) Sensity Top Deepfake Detection Solution | New AI Image Detection; 3) Deepware scanner.

Combatting the misuse of Deep Fake technology demands a multi-faceted approach. One avenue involves developing sophisticated detection tools that can analyze videos and identify anomalies that betray the presence of manipulation. These tools may leverage AI algorithms themselves to scrutinize content for inconsistencies or tampering. Researchers are continually refining these tools to keep pace with the evolving sophistication of Deep Fake technology.

From a regulatory perspective, there is a growing need for laws and policies that address the ethical implications of Deep Fakes. Striking a balance between innovation and safeguarding against malicious use requires a collaborative effort between governments, technology developers, and the wider public.

My perspective on Deep Fakes is one rooted in both fascination and concern. The power of AI to manipulate audio and visual content opens a realm of creative possibilities, but the potential for misuse demands a vigilant response from the technological community. By developing advanced detection tools, promoting media literacy, and establishing ethical guidelines, we can work towards harnessing the potential of Deep Fake technology responsibly and preserving the integrity of our digital reality.

As told to Deepti Sharma

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