A 30-year-old man was arrested in Odisha’s Puri district for allegedly setting up a fraudulent social media account using the identity of a woman who rejected his advances and posting a post threatening to destroy the sacred. Jagannath Temple.
The accused, identified as Pratik Mishra, a local resident of the coastal town, was taken into custody late on Wednesday, police said.
On January 11, Mishra allegedly created a deceptive social media profile impersonating a woman who had recently rejected his request for a relationship. He subsequently recorded a message promising to bomb a shrine and a local retail center as well as target BJD lawmaker Subhasish Khuntia, investigators said. Mishra confessed to the crimes and informed the investigators that his aim was to implicate the woman in the criminal investigation.
Puri SP Prateek Singh said security coverage has been increased near the temple after the online threat was discovered.
“Devotees entering the temple are properly checked,” the SP said.
Meanwhile, Khuntia claimed that he was contacted a few days ago by an unknown contact who insisted on payment ₹10 lakhs. The individual also pressured him to resign from his parliamentary position.
Lord Jagannath’s AI video surfaced, SJTA files police complaint
In another development, officials at Jagannath Shrine in Puri have launched a formal police complaint against social media users for spreading AI-generated images and clips of Lord Jagannath, which are going viral and have sparked considerable outrage among devotees.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Monday lodged a complaint with the Singhadwar police station against a profile named ‘vishvrajcreation’ for allegedly sharing an offensive depiction of the deity across digital platforms.
According to a complaint registered by the shrine’s special security officer, the AI-generated material hurt the spiritual sentiments of followers and ignited bitterness. One particular video shows milk falling on Lord Jagannath outside the Puri structure using a construction crane — a completely manufactured and impractical depiction with zero basis in traditional rituals, Jagannath heritage specialist Bhaskar Mishra noted.
Mishra noted that these fraudulent graphics have deeply hurt the emotions of the worshipers of Lord Jagannath. Representatives of the shrine said that while there had been previous cases of illegal photography and sharing of footage from the complex, this was the first time artificial intelligence was used to produce media that disrespected the deity.
The Shree Jagannath Temple Management Committee, the main governing body of the 12th-century site, recently decided to update its bylaws to ensure that such actions are considered illegal and subject to sanctions.
