Tamil Nadu’s Crime Branch-CID is probing a possible Pakistan link to a network that circulated AI-generated deepfake videos impersonating Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and allegedly used them to dupe people across India.
The probe follows the arrest of a 28-year-old man from Rajasthan, while investigators have detected several similar deepfake videos being circulated through Facebook accounts purportedly operated from Pakistan. Police are now examining whether the Pakistan-linked accounts are connected to the Indian accused and whether anyone in India provided assistance to those operating them.
The AI-generated videos featured a digitally manipulated version of Vijay speaking in Hindi and offering financial assistance to viewers. Those watching the videos were directed to contact a WhatsApp number to receive the promised help.
According to the CB-CID, similar videos were circulated across Facebook and other social media platforms and were allegedly used to cheat multiple people in Madhya Pradesh and other states. Investigators have also identified at least one fraud victim in Madhya Pradesh, whose statement and evidence have strengthened the case against the arrested suspect.
The accused, identified as Shyabu Khan, was arrested in Alwar, Rajasthan, on September 12 with the assistance of the Rajasthan Police. Police seized mobile phones, SIM cards and a CPU allegedly used in the offence. Khan was subsequently brought to Tamil Nadu on a transit warrant and remanded in judicial custody.
The case was registered on September 1 after the CB-CID Cyber Crime Cell detected the videos during routine online monitoring. Investigators subsequently obtained information from service providers and analysed digital trails to trace suspects in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Two special teams were sent to the states as part of the investigation.
The Pakistan connection emerged during the wider investigation. Police said several similar videos had been shared through Facebook accounts purportedly based in Pakistan. The CB-CID is now attempting to identify the people behind those accounts and determine whether they have any connection with the Indian suspects. Investigators are also examining whether the foreign accounts received assistance from individuals operating within India.
The police had earlier approached Meta, which owns Facebook and WhatsApp, seeking details of the fake accounts and relevant log records. Authorities have also initiated steps to remove the deepfake videos from social media platforms.
The use of Hindi in the videos has also drawn investigators’ attention. A CB-CID official previously said the suspected modus operandi involved directing people who responded to the number in the videos into WhatsApp groups, where they could subsequently be targeted for fraud. The use of Hindi suggested that the videos may have been aimed primarily at Hindi-speaking audiences outside Tamil Nadu.
The investigation is continuing to establish whether Khan acted independently or was part of a wider network. Police are also pursuing the identities of those operating the Pakistan-linked accounts and examining whether there were any local accomplices.
The Tamil Nadu Police has warned the public not to contact phone numbers or join WhatsApp groups promoted through such videos and has urged people to verify claims of financial assistance through official channels before sharing personal or banking details.
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