Tamil Nadu Police Arrest Rajasthan Man Over AI Deepfake of CM Vijay

The Bottom Line

•Tamil Nadu CB-CID police arrested 28-year-old Shyabu Khan in Rajasthan for creating AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating Chief Minister Vijay.
•The suspect and his associates used the fraudulent videos to solicit financial help from the public via a specific WhatsApp number.
•The arrest followed a multi-state tracking operation, and the investigation into the suspect's network is currently ongoing.

Sources & Citations

The Hindu report

Reporting basis: one publisher; no matching primary record was attached.

The Crime Branch CID of the Tamil Nadu Police has arrested a 28-year-old man in Rajasthan for allegedly creating and circulating AI-generated deepfake videos that impersonated Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay. The suspect, identified as Shyabu Khan, was apprehended near Alwar with the assistance of local Rajasthan police following a tracking operation that spanned the hinterlands of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Investigation and Modus Operandi

According to an official statement from the state police, the accused and his associates utilized sophisticated AI technology to produce videos featuring a digital likeness of the Chief Minister. The videos, which included Hindi audio, were designed to deceive the public by soliciting financial assistance. The perpetrators instructed viewers to contact a specific WhatsApp number to receive or provide financial help, a tactic investigators identified as a fraudulent scheme intended to cheat innocent individuals.

Apprehension and Procedural Status

Law enforcement officials tracked the suspect by monitoring his movements across state lines. The arrest was executed in the Alwar region, marking a significant development in the state's efforts to curb the misuse of generative AI for criminal activities. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify potential associates involved in the distribution of the fraudulent content across various social media platforms. No further details regarding the specific charges or the next court appearance were disclosed in the initial police report.