Hyderabad, Oct. 28: Nagole police arrested a man for allegedly circulating an AI-generated leopard photograph and falsely claiming that the animal was roaming near Fathullaguda, triggering panic among local residents.
The accused, identified as Sachin, is a native of Karnataka and was working in Hyderabad. According to reports, he allegedly created the image using ChatGPT and shared it with his landlord, claiming that a leopard had been spotted near Bhashyam School in Fathullaguda.
The photograph subsequently circulated on social media, prompting residents to worry about a possible leopard sighting in the locality. Forest officials and Nagole police began verifying the information.
Forest Officials Find No Evidence of Leopard Movement
Officials from the Uppal Forest Range inspected the area with assistance from Nagole police. They found no evidence of leopard movement and determined that the circulated photograph was artificially generated.
The incident prompted officials to investigate how the image was created and circulated. Reports said Sachin was identified during the inquiry and was taken into custody by authorities.
Police issued a notice to the accused and warned him against spreading misleading information. However, other reports said he was arrested and booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The precise legal action should be confirmed through the police record before publication.
The incident has renewed concerns about AI-generated images being shared as genuine photographs. Realistic-looking images can spread quickly through social media groups and create unnecessary fear.
Officials have urged residents to verify wildlife alerts before forwarding them. Anyone who suspects a wild animal is roaming near a residential area should inform the Forest Department or police rather than relying on unverified social media posts.
Authorities have also warned that misleading information can cause public panic and divert officials from genuine emergencies.
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