Post by : Rameen Ariff

A deadly incident in Faridabad, Haryana, has drawn attention to the growing misuse of artificial intelligence in online crime. A 19-year-old college student, identified as Rahul Bharti, is reported to have taken his own life after being blackmailed with AI-generated obscene images involving his sisters.

Family members say Rahul, a second-year pupil at DAV College, showed signs of severe distress for more than a fortnight. His father, Manoj Bharti, told investigators that Rahul had withdrawn from family life, avoided meals and spent long periods alone in his room.

According to the police case file, the cycle of abuse began when Rahul’s phone was allegedly compromised and doctored images and videos — created using AI tools — were circulated that purported to show Rahul and his three sisters in obscene situations.

Investigators recovered WhatsApp exchanges between Rahul and an individual named Sahil, who allegedly sent the fabricated material and demanded a payment of ₹20,000 to prevent its release. The chat logs include multiple audio and video calls and messages, among them the phrase “aja mere paas”, indicating repeated contact.

Police allege the conversations escalated, with the sender threatening to publish the material unless payment was made and in one exchange urging Rahul toward self-harm. Confronted with the pressure and humiliation, Rahul reportedly consumed poison around 7pm on Saturday.

He was transported to hospital by family members but did not survive despite medical efforts. Manoj Bharti said the harassment — including threats to circulate images of his daughters — left the family shattered.

The family has also implicated a relative, named Neeraj Bharti, suggesting past disputes and possible collusion with a woman in the scheme. Following the complaint, police have registered a case against two individuals and seized Rahul’s phone for forensic analysis.

Investigating officer Sunil Kumar described the matter as a cyber-harassment incident involving manipulated content produced with AI, and said authorities are carrying out a comprehensive probe. He added that legal action would follow once digital evidence is verified.

Old Police Station in-charge Vishnu Kumar warned that such episodes show how synthetic media can be weaponised to devastate lives. He urged citizens to remain alert to fake content online and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.

The death of Rahul Bharti underscores the rising threat of deepfakes and AI-driven extortion in India, highlighting an urgent need for stronger safeguards and public awareness against digital blackmail.

#Global