Ahmedabad’s Cyber Crime Branch said the accused allegedly created over 100 AI-generated morphed images and multiple fake profiles after the woman rejected his advances online.
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Activists belonging to various women’s rights organisations hold placards during a protest held to condemn the growing atrocities on women in Bangalore on October 29, 2020. PHOTO: AFP
May 29, 2026
NEW DELHI – A 27-year-old man from Delhi has been arrested for allegedly creating fake social media profiles of an Ahmedabad woman and circulating AI-generated morphed nude photographs and videos of her and her mother online, police said on Thursday.
The arrest comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence tools in cyber crimes targeting women. Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch officials said the accused allegedly used AI-based websites to digitally manipulate photographs downloaded from the woman’s Instagram account and uploaded the content across multiple fake profiles to harass and defame her.
According to police, the accused, identified as Sumit Sharma of Kartar Nagar in northeast Delhi, first contacted the complainant through Instagram while discussing religious topics linked to the ISKCON Hare Krishna sect. Investigators said Sharma, who was involved in ritual-related work and uploaded religious discourse videos online, later tried to befriend the woman.
Police said the harassment allegedly began after the woman refused his advances.
Investigators told reporters that between December 2025 and April this year, Sharma allegedly created several fake accounts impersonating the complainant on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube. The fake profiles reportedly used the woman’s photographs as display pictures.
How police traced the accused in the AI morphing case
Officials said the accused allegedly searched online for tools using terms such as “AI Remove Clothes” and used different websites to create morphed nude images and videos of the complainant and her mother.
“The accused uploaded AI-morphed nude photographs and videos of the complainant and her mother on fake accounts and posted obscene content aimed at mentally harassing the complainant and damaging her reputation,” officials said.
The Cyber Crime Branch said investigators found more than 100 AI-generated morphed photographs during the probe. Police also discovered between eight and 10 fake social media accounts allegedly operated in the complainant’s name.
The case was registered under Sections 78(2) and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita along with Sections 66(C) and 67 of the Information Technology Act after the woman approached the Cyber Crime Police Station with allegations of online stalking, impersonation and harassment.
Officials said Police Inspector MH Bhetariya and his team traced the accused using technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs before travelling to Delhi to arrest him.
Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch issues online safety advisory
The action was carried out under ‘Mission Cyber Rakshika: #SecureHerSpace’, a campaign launched to spread awareness about cyber crimes against women, including blackmail, fake profiles, deepfakes and AI-generated explicit content.
Following the arrest, Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch advised citizens to keep social media accounts private and avoid interacting closely with unknown individuals online.
Police said further investigation in the case is underway.
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