By a0amdn62263@outlook.com 
Panipat, Haryana – July 3, 2025 — The rising menace of deepfake technology has struck again, this time targeting three female Instagram influencers from Haryana’s Panipat district. The influencers, who have thousands of followers online, became victims of a malicious cybercrime where their faces were superimposed onto explicit videos using artificial intelligence.
This alarming misuse of technology has not only exposed the dark side of AI-powered tools but has also raised concerns about digital safety for women in India’s social media space.
💻 What Happened?
According to police and victim statements, cybercriminals created fake Instagram accounts using publicly available photos and videos of the influencers. These were then edited using AI and deepfake software to produce pornographic content. The manipulated videos were circulated across social media platforms and the victims were tagged directly, making the videos appear real to unsuspecting viewers.
One of the influencers, with over 1.21 lakh followers and 1,600 posts, revealed she came to know about the fake videos when a fan called her, shocked by the explicit content being shared from an account identical to hers.
“I was horrified. My face had been morphed onto someone else’s body in videos I never shot,” she said.
💸 Blackmail and Threats
The situation worsened when the victims tried to contact the person behind the fake accounts. Instead of removing the content, the cybercriminal demanded money.
In one case, the accused threatened a married woman, warning that if she didn’t delete her own real Instagram videos, he would leak more deepfake content online. Out of fear, the woman deleted 20 of her original videos from her personal account.
The cyber attacker also pressured two other friends of the victims, demanding that they delete their accounts or face similar consequences.
डीपफेक से पानीपत की तीन इंस्टाग्राम इन्फ्लूएंसर का अश्लील वीडियो बनाया, हिसार के युवक ने धमकी देकर डिलीट कराए ओरिजिनल वीडियो #Panipat #CyberCrime #Deepfake #Haryana #HaryanaNews #CrimeNews #Crime https://t.co/6DysTSs0R8
— ETVBharat Haryana (@ETVBharatHR) June 30, 2025
📱 The Scope of the Crime
So far, at least 17 explicit deepfake videos have been created using the identities of the three women:
- 7 videos featuring one influencer
- 5 each of the other two victims
The manipulated clips have been widely circulated, causing severe emotional distress and damaging the digital credibility of the influencers.
🚔 Police Action Underway
Panipat Cyber Police Station in-charge Ajay Kumar confirmed the incident and said that one of the victims had filed a complaint against a suspect based in Hisar.
“We’ve received a formal online complaint. Our team has begun tracing the IP and barcodes associated with the fake accounts. The identity of the accused is being verified and we hope to arrest the culprit soon,” Kumar stated.
⚠️ Rising Threat of Deepfake Abuse in India
This incident underscores the growing threat of deepfake pornography in India. While AI technologies are revolutionizing industries, they are also being weaponized to exploit women, particularly those in the public digital space like influencers, creators, and performers.
Cybersecurity experts warn that more such cases may surface, unless stricter regulations, digital verification systems, and AI detection tools are introduced across social media platforms.
🔒 What Can Users Do?
- Never share personal content on public accounts without caution
- Enable two-factor authentication on social media
- Regularly monitor fake profiles
- Report and block suspicious accounts immediately
- Seek legal help or contact cybercrime cells if victimized
✍️ Final Word
As India’s influencer community grows, so does the need for robust online protection mechanisms. The Panipat case is not just a cybercrime — it’s a wake-up call for digital platforms, policymakers, and users alike.
AI may be the future, but without accountability, it risks becoming our biggest threat.
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