New Delhi: A 23-year-old man from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, identified as Eemani Naveen, found himself in legal trouble after creating a deepfake video featuring popular actor Rashmika Mandanna. Naveen, who claimed to be an ardent fan of the actor, admitted to making the video with the intention of gaining more followers for a fan page dedicated to Rashmika Mandanna.
The deepfake video, posted on Naveen’s Instagram channel, led to a significant increase in his followers, rising from 90,000 to 108,000 within two weeks. However, the situation took a turn when the video garnered attention from actors and industry figures, including the legendary Amitabh Bachchan, who condemned the creation. Fearing repercussions, Naveen promptly deleted the video and changed the name of his Instagram channel.
Delhi Police, investigating the case for two months, revealed that over 500 social media accounts were analyzed during the investigation. While individuals who shared the video were interrogated, the original creator remained elusive. Naveen’s arrest unfolded after a thorough examination of the social media accounts involved, ultimately leading the police to his Instagram profile.
The deepfake video, crafted using footage of British influencer Zara Patel, triggered a chain of events that prompted Delhi Police to write to Meta for details and the URL to identify the accused. Meanwhile, Naveen, anticipating legal action, wiped his digital footprint from his devices.
The investigative team, comprising Inspector Hansraj Swami and Sub-Inspector Kapil Yaduvanshi under the supervision of ACP Manoj Kumar, traced Naveen to his residence in Guntur. In police interrogation, Naveen confessed to being a dedicated fan of Rashmika Mandanna and managing fan pages for her and two other film actors. The case highlights the legal complexities arising from deepfake content and the subsequent challenges in tracing and prosecuting those responsible.