The incident has sent shockwaves across the city and raised concerns over the growing use of artificial intelligence for cybercrime.
A tragic case from Faridabad has highlighted the dark side of technology misuse. A 19-year-old college student, Rahul Bharti, allegedly died by suicide after being blackmailed with AI-generated deepfake images and videos. The incident has sent shockwaves across the city and raised concerns over the growing use of artificial intelligence for cybercrime.
According to police, Rahul Bharti, a resident of Baselwa Colony in Old Faridabad, was being harassed by two unidentified men who used manipulated images and videos to extort money. The accused reportedly demanded ₹20,000 from him to stop circulating the fake content online.
According to some officials, the incident occurred on Saturday evening. Rahul, a B.Com student at a local college, had been under severe stress for the past ten days due to continuous blackmail.
Investigators believe Rahul’s smartphone had been compromised. “The accused started threatening him via a messaging application,” said a senior officer from NIT Police Station. The threats intensified, and the suspects allegedly pushed Rahul toward suicide. Preliminary reports indicate that he consumed poison in his room around 7:00 PM on Saturday.
The police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against two unknown persons under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Rahul’s father, Manoj Bharti, said his son had been withdrawn and anxious for several days before the tragedy. “He ate very little, spoke infrequently, and spent lengthy periods alone in his room,” Manoj told the police. The family had no idea that Rahul was facing such psychological torture.
Rahul was the youngest in the family. His father works as a driver. The Bhartis, originally from Siwan, Bihar, have lived in Faridabad for nearly five decades. The family has three daughters and one son.
Upon checking Rahul’s phone, his father found multiple messages from a person named Sahil, who had allegedly created and sent the deepfake images. The messages also contained demands for money and threats to post the content online. In his final texts, Sahil reportedly incited Rahul to take his own life and even suggested what poison to use.
Another man named Neeraj Bharti is also under suspicion. Police said Rahul’s last call before his death was with him. A formal complaint has been filed against both suspects.
“We are trying to ascertain their identities, and they will soon be apprehended,” said Yashpal Yadav, Public Relations Officer, Faridabad Police. Investigators are examining Rahul’s phone data, chat logs, and social media activity to trace the source and distribution of the AI-generated content.
Police are also probing how the suspects obtained Rahul’s personal photos to manipulate them using artificial intelligence tools.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of how AI technology, when misused, can lead to devastating consequences. Authorities have urged citizens to report cyberbullying and extortion cases promptly to prevent such tragedies.
