Delhi Police Pursue Rashmika Mandanna’s Deepfake Culprit, Seek Meta’s Help to Uncover Source

In the wake of a formal complaint (FIR) filed by the Delhi Police, authorities have swiftly acted to trace the origin of a “deepfake” video featuring popular actor Rashmika Mandanna. A letter has been dispatched to Meta, urging access to the account’s URL from which the manipulated video was disseminated on social media.

The Delhi Police, through their Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations Unit, invoked sections 465 and 469 of the Indian Penal Code, addressing forgery and forgery with intent to damage reputation, along with sections 66C and 66E of the Information Technology Act in their formal complaint. An officer involved in the investigation revealed that the police are diligently pursuing the identities of those responsible for sharing the fabricated video.

“We have written to Meta to access the URL ID of the account from which the video was generated,” disclosed an officer familiar with the ongoing probe, expressing optimism that the case will be solved promptly. A dedicated squad of officers has been assembled to tackle the issue at hand.

In a parallel development, the Delhi Commission for Women has weighed in, insisting that the perpetrators of this act face consequences. A notification to this effect was submitted to the city police on Friday, aligning with growing concerns over the proliferation of deepfake content.

The contentious deepfake video, which gained viral traction on social media last week, purported to feature Rashmika Mandanna but was likely generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Initial claims suggested that the original video showcased a British-Indian influencer, with Rashmika’s likeness manipulated in the deceptive footage. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to resolve the case and hold those accountable for the malicious creation and dissemination of the deepfake.