A hotel owner in Patna was allegedly blackmailed using an AI-generated deepfake obscene video and forced to pay Rs 9.7 million to the accused. Police have registered an FIR against three people, including a woman, in connection with the incident.
According to police, the victims were threatened with dissemination of fake videos and false accusations unless they paid Rs 1 billion. The hotel owner allegedly paid Rs 97 million in four installments at different locations in Muzaffarpur, Sitamahi and Patna.
Sub-divisional police officer Vinita Sinha said an FIR was lodged on Saturday based on the victim’s complaint and investigation is underway.
Police have identified Muzaffarpur resident Abhishek Kumar as the alleged mastermind. He is suspected of colluding with women to create AI-generated deepfake videos of hotel managers and using them to extort money.
According to reports, to help police trace the suspect, the victim placed an electronic tracking device inside a bundle of banknotes and handed over the final installment of 2 million rupees on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
Police used tracking devices to trace the alleged mastermind’s residence in Muzaffarpur and recovered Rs 2 million during the raid. However, the suspect fled before police arrived at the scene.
Police said efforts were underway to arrest the absconding suspect and identify others involved in the extortion case. Further investigation into this incident is ongoing.
