Mangaluru: Noted social activist and rationalist Narendra Nayak has filed a formal complaint with the Urwa Police Station against an objectionable video circulated on Facebook, alleging that it was artificially created, defamatory, and intended to malign his public image.
Complaint over AI-generated content
According to the complaint dated January 15, 2026, the controversial video was posted on January 14 on a Facebook page operated by an individual identified as Prof. Pavitra Kanchan. Nayak stated that the video falsely portrayed him in misleading contexts and was accompanied by several defamatory comments from social media users.
He submitted a downloaded copy of the video along with screenshots of the Facebook post to the police, requesting a thorough investigation and appropriate legal action against those responsible for its creation and circulation.
‘An attack on my right to free expression’
In his complaint, Prof. Nayak pointed out that he is a well-known rationalist, President of the Federation of Rationalist Associations of India, and a trustee of Aid Without Religion Trust. He said the fabricated video directly curtailed his fundamental right to freely express his opinions and participate in public discourse.
Long history of activism and threats
Nationally recognised as a rationalist, humanist, and myth-buster, Prof. Nayak has been at the forefront of campaigns promoting scientific temper and social justice. He has also been vocal in exposing superstition, miracle-mongering, fake godmen, and religious frauds. Most recently, he has been associated with efforts seeking justice for slain RTI activist Vinayak Baliga.
Due to his outspoken views, Prof. Nayak has frequently been targeted by online trolls and extremist groups. Following the murders of noted rationalists such as Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, and M. M. Kalburgi since 2013, and after his name reportedly appeared on a hit list linked to the murder of journalist Gowri Lankesh, the Karnataka government had provided him police protection for nearly seven years starting from 2016.
Police action and rising deepfake concerns
The Urwa police have registered the case and issued an official acknowledgement of the complaint. The incident once again highlights the growing misuse of artificial intelligence tools to create fabricated images and videos—commonly referred to as deepfakes—which pose serious threats to individual reputation, public discourse, and democratic freedoms.
Authorities are expected to examine the origin of the video, the intent behind its circulation, and the role of those who amplified defamatory content online.
