The police action against two popular social media comedians in Rajasthan's Churu district has triggered widespread resentment among the state's digital creator community. The controversy escalated following the arrest of comedians Anil and Omla (Anil Khariya and Om), who were booked under breach-of-peace charges over an AI-generated image. Terming the administrative action high-handed and biased, a delegation of the Rajasthan Influencer Community demonstrated at the Churu Superintendent of Police (SP) office on Thursday and submitted a formal memorandum demanding a thorough and impartial inquiry.
Digital Creators Mobilize at Churu Police Headquarters
Social media figures from across Rajasthan converged in Churu to stand in solidarity with the comedian duo from Khariya village. The visiting delegation included prominent digital creators such as Banwarilal (famously known as Bannu), Muskan, Vikas Mahala, Dr. Kuldeep Chahal Bholu, alongside Anil and Om. Meeting with SP Nischay Prasad M, the creators expressed deep dissatisfaction over the police handling of the issue. They argued that imposing penal action on content creators who had already conceded their oversight and removed the content was unwarranted.
Timeline: From AI Image Post to Police Arrest
The memorandum submitted to the district police chief lays out a detailed chronology of the events leading up to the arrests. On August 23, Anil and Omla published an AI-generated photograph connected to Pakistani digital influencer Adnan on their social media handles. Upon receiving instructions from the police department on August 24, the creators immediately deleted the post. Furthermore, both artists posted a formal public apology alongside an explanatory video to clear their stance and express regret.
According to the creator community, despite fulfilling these corrective steps, police personnel arrived at Anil's residence in Khariya village on August 25 and brought him to the station. Om was subsequently summoned to the station as well. Both individuals were placed under arrest under breach-of-peace provisions and subsequently produced before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to be bound down.
Allegations of Detention, Harassment, and Threats
The memorandum raises serious allegations regarding the conduct of the station officers. It asserts that Anil and Om were held at the police station for eight hours, from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, during which they were subjected to intense psychological pressure. The community alleged that officers threatened to forcibly shut down their social media channels and frame them in severe criminal cases. To ensure accountability, the delegation demanded that the police station's CCTV recordings, official phone call logs, and daily diary (roznamcha) entries for August 25 be impounded and audited by an independent investigative authority.
Police Chief Assures Probe, Issues Warning on Digital Content
After reviewing the complaints, SP Nischay Prasad M assured the creator delegation that a fair and unbiased investigation would be conducted into the entire episode. However, the police chief also issued a stern warning regarding online civic responsibility. Addressing content creators, he stated, “Before sharing any post on social media, one must think a hundred times about its impact on society, harmony, and law and order. Content lacking responsibility will not be tolerated.”
