Bengaluru police arrest three for creating deepfake content of Kannada actress Rukmini Vasanth

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Bengaluru cybercrime police have arrested three individuals accused of creating and disseminating deepfake content featuring Kannada film actress Rukmini Vasanth. The arrests follow a formal complaint filed by the rising star, known for her roles in “Sapta Saagaradaache Ello” and “Kantara: Chapter 1,” after she discovered unauthorized and manipulated images and videos of herself circulating online.

The suspects, identified as 24-year-old Ravikumar from Bagalkot, 33-year-old Chandrakant, and 25-year-old Ranjith, both residing in Bengaluru, were taken into custody following an investigation. According to police reports, authorities seized three mobile phones used to generate and distribute the AI-fabricated media, which were falsely presented as behind-the-scenes footage from film sets. The men have since been produced before a judicial magistrate and remanded as investigators work to determine if others are involved in the operation. Charges have been filed under the provisions of the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The controversy erupted last month when the AI-generated visuals began appearing on social media platforms. Vasanth addressed the situation publicly via X, formerly known as Twitter, where she vehemently denied any connection to the images. She characterized the distribution of the content as a severe violation of her privacy and explicitly stated that the visuals were entirely fabricated.

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In her statement, Vasanth emphasized that she and her team were treating the matter with the utmost seriousness, confirming that they had engaged cybercrime authorities to ensure those responsible faced legal consequences. The actress, currently one of the Kannada film industry’s most sought-after talents, is preparing for several high-profile projects, including “Toxic” alongside superstar Yash, the Prashanth Neel-directed action drama “Dragon” opposite Junior NTR, and Dhanush’s upcoming film “D56.”