Rajasthan Man Arrested for AI-Generated Deepfake Videos Impersonating Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

Tamil Nadu’s Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) arrested 28-year-old Shyabu Khan of Boontoli, Alwar district, Rajasthan, on September 12. Police say Khan created and circulated AI-generated deepfake videos that showed a likeness of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay speaking in Hindi. The videos urged viewers to contact a WhatsApp number for financial assistance, a ploy used to defraud individuals in Madhya Pradesh and other states. Mobile phones, SIM cards and a central-processing unit (CPU) used in the scheme were seized, and Khan was brought to Chennai on a prisoner-transit warrant and remanded in judicial custody.

Hindustan TimesDeccan ChroniclePak-linked accounts spread CM Vijay's deepfakes to dupe people; 1 arrested Vijay: ‘Jana Nayagan’ actor, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay deepfake case: Man arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly using AI clips to lure people into a financial fraud trap

The CB-CID’s cyber-crime wing detected the deepfake videos during routine online monitoring in late August. The videos, shared on Facebook and other platforms, were traced to accounts that appeared to be operated from Pakistan. Similar fraudulent clips had been reported across multiple states, prompting a coordinated investigation that involved special teams from Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Vijay: ‘Jana Nayagan’ actor, Tamil Nadu CM Vijay deepfake case: Man arrested in Rajasthan for allegedly using AI clips to lure people into a financial fraud trap

• Age of suspect: 28 years.

The Hindu

• Key dates: Cases registered on September 1 under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 204 (impersonating a public servant), 318(2) (cheating) and 319(2) (cheating as a public servant); arrest made on September 12.

Hindustan Times

• Legal provisions invoked: BNS sections 204, 318(2), 319(2) and Information Technology Act sections 66C (identity theft) and 66D (cheating by electronic means).

Deccan Chronicle

• Geographic reach: Fraudulent solicitations reported in Madhya Pradesh and additional Indian states.

Deccan Chronicle

A CB-CID officer noted that the videos were shared on purportedly Pakistan-based Facebook accounts and that investigators were probing “foreign perpetrators despite operational challenges.” Director-General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal praised the technical analysis that led to the arrest, stating that the operation demonstrated the force’s capability to tackle sophisticated cyber-crimes.

The Hindu

The case highlights the emerging threat of AI-driven misinformation when combined with financial fraud. By impersonating a high-profile public figure, the deepfakes exploited public trust and facilitated cross-state scams. The investigation underscores the need for coordinated cyber-crime responses across state lines and the importance of international cooperation to trace content hosted on foreign platforms.

The Hindu

Police have not ruled out the possibility that Khan acted as part of a larger network. The CB-CID continues to analyze digital trails, has requested removal of the fraudulent videos from social-media sites, and is seeking to identify any additional individuals—domestic or abroad—who may have supported the operation. A victim’s statement from Madhya Pradesh has been recorded as evidence, strengthening the case against the accused.

Deccan Chronicle