India
oi-Swastika Sruti
Controversy has erupted after the video of two women dancing at Lat Bhairav temple complex in Varanasi has surfaced on the internet. However, apart from controversy, the behavior of the police in the video has been questioned as well.
Varanasi Police have debunked a viral video of women dancing at the Lat Bhairav temple complex, identifying it as AI-generated with the intent to discredit the police, and will take action against its circulation.
However, according to Varanasi Police, the video is artificial intelligence generated and the motive behind spreading this fake video is to tarnish the image of police.
The police also stated that action will be taken against this misleading video.
Police Deny Authenticity Of Viral Video
The video became very popular on social media platforms and was apparently tied up with some celebration events around the annual festival of Baba Lat Bhairav Barat.
This seemed to depict two women performing on an elevated stage where some policemen were supposedly visible in the background.
The video sparked outrage among netizens for reasons such as why were policemen seen to be watching or filming this performance while on duty.
However, Varanasi police debunked the authenticity of this video, claiming that this was made using AI technology.
The police stated that videos made by the public during the festival did not capture the policemen as shown in the viral video.
This is from Banaras, Lok Sabha Constituency of PM Modi. You can see several policemen deployed at Lat Bhairav temple complex for protection are seen holding mobile phones, filming the dance by the female dancers. pic.twitter.com/s1KIo5RN2T
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 29, 2026
SP Attacks BJP Government Over Video
Another dimension to the scandal was the political reaction by the Samajwadi Party.
The media wing of the party criticized the BJP government over the alleged video and claimed that obscene acts were taking place in places of worship.
The SP also raised doubts regarding the claims of the BJP of preserving values and culture of religion.
These were political allegations before the police clarification over the viral video being artificially created.
What Is The Lat Bhairav Festival?
The controversy emerged during the annual Baba Lat Bhairav Barat celebrations in Varanasi. The five-day festival was held from September 23 to 27 this year and is associated with the traditional wedding celebrations of Baba Lat Bhairav, also known as Kapal Bhairav, and Goddess Bhairavi.
As part of the celebrations, devotees carrying wedding offerings travel from the main shrine in Kazzakpura towards Visheshwarganj for the Tilak ceremony.
The procession then stops at the Kaal Bhairav temple before reaching the Lat Bhairav temple, where further rituals and aarti are performed.
Temple-Linked People Defend The Tradition
People associated with the temple have maintained that performances by nagar vadhus, traditionally associated with the festival, form part of the longstanding celebrations.
However, some local voices have disputed whether the performances shown in the viral video represented an old tradition.
Sanatan Rakshak Dal president Ajay Sharma claimed that such performances had become part of the celebrations only in recent years.
He argued that religious programmes at the temple should focus on traditional cultural forms such as classical music rather than performances he described as vulgar.
Questions Raised Over Police Conduct
Before the police clarification, the purported video also triggered questions about the role of police personnel deployed at the event.
Advocate and former Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith general secretary Vikas Singh said that if policemen were actually recording the performance or using their phones while on duty, it would raise questions about their responsibilities.
However, these reactions were based on the purported video, whose authenticity has now been disputed by the police.
Police To Take Action Over Circulation
Varanasi Police said the video was being circulated to create a misleading impression about the department.
The police have indicated that legal action will be taken over the circulation of the AI-generated footage. The development has shifted the focus of the controversy from the alleged temple performance to the growing use of AI-generated videos to create misleading narratives online.
