Aligarh: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh, the explosive middle-order batsman for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and hailing from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, has found himself embroiled in controversy after an AI-generated video posted from his official Facebook account sparked outrage among certain groups.
The viral clip, which gained massive traction online, features Rinku hitting a signature six, followed by depictions of Hindu deities — Lord Hanuman driving a car (resembling a Thar), with Lords Shankar, Vishnu, and Ganesh as passengers, many sporting black sunglasses. Accompanying text reads: “तुम्हें क्रिकेटर किसने बनाया?” (Who made you a cricketer?) answered by “इन्होंने” (They did), pointing to the gods. While many netizens viewed it as a light-hearted, creative tribute aligning with Rinku’s popular “God’s Plan” motto, others deemed it disrespectful to religious sentiments.
The Shri Rashtriya Rajput Karni Sena swung into action, with its Aligarh district president Sumit Tomar filing a complaint at Sasni Gate police station on January 19.
Accusing Rinku of exhibiting a “jihadi mindset” akin to KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, Tomar claimed the video insulted Sanatan Dharma and hurt Hindu gods’ honour. “Rinku Singh has shown his jihadi mentality like Shah Rukh Khan by posting this AI-generated video of our deities… We will not tolerate this. He must apologise with folded hands, or Karni Sena will hit the streets in protest,” Tomar asserted.
Police have received the tahrir (written complaint) and are investigating, though no FIR has been confirmed yet. The episode highlights the razor-thin line public figures tread on social media when blending faith, fun, and AI creativity — especially in a polarised digital age. Rinku is yet to respond publicly, leaving fans and critics divided as the debate rages on.