Fact check: Did Kumar Sanu sing a song for Imran Khan?

Bollywood playback legend Kumar Sanu has refuted allegations of singing for former prime minister Imran Khan. On his Instagram, Sanu addressed a widespread rumour amplified by a false news report suggesting his support for Khan through a song.

"I want to clarify that I have never sung any song for Pakistan's former Prime Minister," Sanu stated emphatically. He explained that the audio which has been circulating on Facebook is not authentic. "The audio circulating on Facebook is not my voice—it has been created using AI," he clarified.

Sanu expressed his frustration over the misuse of his identity to propagate falsehoods. "Some people are trying to defame me, and that’s why I want to tell my fans that this news is fake, a lie!" he conveyed in his post, addressing his fans directly to clear up any misunderstandings.

Highlighting the broader implications of the issue, Sanu called on the Indian government to take stringent measures against the misuse of emerging technologies.

"This is a serious misuse of technology, and I urge the Government of India to take immediate action to prevent the abuse of AI and deepfake technology," he urged.

"Let's stop the spread of misinformation," he added, appealing for an end to the wrongful use of artificial intelligence in creating deceptive media.

The controversy came to light following a Facebook post dated July 26, which falsely showed Sanu singing at a concert advocating for Imran Khan's political return.