Post by : Rameen Ariff

A deeply troubling episode in Faridabad has highlighted how artificial intelligence can be abused for cyber extortion. Police say 19-year-old Rahul Bharti, a second-year student at DAV College, died by suicide after being blackmailed with AI-manufactured explicit images and videos appearing to involve his three sisters.

Officials report Rahul showed signs of severe depression for more than two weeks. His father, Manoj Bharti, told investigators his son withdrew, stopped eating properly and spent long periods alone in his room after the harassment began.

Investigators recovered WhatsApp exchanges between Rahul and a man identified as Sahil. The messages allegedly included obscene photos and clips and a demand for ₹20,000 to prevent them from being shared online. Screenshots also documented multiple audio and video calls and messages including “aja mere paas” (come to me). In their final exchange, Sahil reportedly threatened to publish the material and even urged Rahul to take his life.

Family members say Rahul ingested poison at about 7 p.m. on Saturday. He was taken to hospital but succumbed during treatment. "Someone sent obscene material about my daughters to Rahul’s phone and threatened to expose it — that harassment destroyed him," said his father.

The relatives have accused another family member, Neeraj Bharti, of potential involvement, citing prior disputes and suggesting possible collusion with a woman. Following the complaint, police registered a case against two individuals and have begun forensic analysis of Rahul’s phone for digital traces.

Investigating officer Sunil Kumar described the matter as a clear instance of AI misuse and cyber harassment, saying a thorough inquiry is underway and that legal action will follow once evidence is verified.

Old Police Station in-charge Vishnu Kumar warned the episode underlines how AI tools are increasingly being weaponised to ruin lives. Authorities urge the public to remain alert to deepfakes and to report suspicious online activity promptly.

The death of Rahul Bharti is being seen as a stark reminder of the rising threat posed by AI-enabled cybercrime across India, where fabricated content and digital blackmail are becoming more common methods of emotional and financial exploitation.

#Global