Rashmika Mandanna, the star of films like Animal and Dear Comrade, has been the victim of a shocking cybercrime. A 24-year-old man from Andhra Pradesh has been arrested by the Delhi Police for creating and spreading a deepfake video of the actress on social media. The accused Eemani Naveen, a 24-year-old BTech graduate from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, confessed that he did it to gain more followers on Instagram.

What is a deepfake?

A deepfake is a form of synthetic media where audio or video elements are manipulated using artificial intelligence. The technology can be used to create realistic but fake images or videos of anyone, often without their consent or knowledge. Deepfakes can be used for various purposes, such as entertainment, satire, or malicious intent.

How did the deepfake video of Rashmika Mandanna go viral?

The deepfake video of Rashmika Mandanna was uploaded on Instagram by Naveen in November 2023. The video was made using a face-swapping app that Naveen downloaded from the internet. He then posted the video on his Instagram account, which was a fan page dedicated to Rashmika. The video quickly went viral, as many people believed it was real and shared it on other platforms. Naveen’s follower count also increased from 90,000 to 1,08,000 within two weeks.

How did the Delhi Police catch the culprit?

The Delhi Police Cyber Cell launched an investigation into the matter after Rashmika Mandanna filed a complaint. The police traced the origin of the video to Naveen’s Instagram account, which he had deleted after realizing the gravity of his crime. He had also changed the name of his fan page and erased any digital evidence from his devices. However, the police managed to recover some data from his cloud storage and his phone. They also examined more than 500 social media accounts that had been associated with the video. After two months of rigorous investigation, the police finally arrested Naveen from his hometown in Andhra Pradesh. He was brought to Delhi and interrogated, where he confessed to his crime. He said that he was a fan of Rashmika and had no intention of harming her reputation. He said that he created the video as a prank and to gain followers online.

Delhi Police said Naveen holds a Btech in Electronics and Communication, and completed certification in digital marketing from Google Digital Garage, the online learning platform, in 2019. He works from home providing services such as Photoshop, Instagram channel promotion, YouTube video creation and editing and search engine optimization.

What is the legal action against the culprit?

The Delhi Police has booked Naveen under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act. He has been charged with IPC sections 465 (forgery) and 469 (harming reputation), and sections 66C (identity theft) and 66E (privacy violation) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. He faces a maximum punishment of five years in prison and a fine of up to Rs. 10 lakh. He has been remanded to judicial custody and will be produced before a court soon.

How did the celebrities and the fans react to the incident?

The incident sparked outrage and sympathy among the celebrities and the fans of Rashmika Mandanna. Many of them took to social media to condemn the act and support the actress. The first to voice out his opinion was Amitabh Bachchan, who tweeted, “This is a heinous crime and a gross violation of human dignity. I stand with Rashmika Mandanna and demand strict action against the culprit. #JusticeForRashmika”. Soon, many others, including Mrunal Thakur, Naga Chaitanya, Sai Dharam Tej, and Chinmayi Sripaada also followed suit. They praised Rashmika for her courage and strength in dealing with the situation. They also urged the authorities to take swift and severe action against the culprit. They also warned the public to be wary of such fake videos and not to fall prey to them.

Rashmika Mandanna also thanked her fans and well-wishers for their support and love. She said that she was deeply hurt and disturbed by the incident, but she was not going to let it affect her. She said that she was confident that the truth would prevail and justice would be served. She also appealed to the people to respect the privacy and dignity of women and not to share or watch such videos.

The incident has also raised awareness and concern about the dangers of deepfake technology and the need for stricter laws and regulations to prevent its misuse. The incident has also highlighted the need for more cyber literacy and security among the public. The incident has also shown the dark side of fandom and the obsession with celebrities. The incident has also exposed the vulnerability and harassment faced by women in the entertainment industry and the society at large.