Deepfake video of Gujarat MP used in old coin scam; two held from Haryana
Synopsis
A Haryana-based duo allegedly impersonated Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakia using fake social media profiles and an AI-generated deepfake video to run a multi-state 'old coin' scam. Nine complaints on the national cybercrime portal point to total alleged fraud of ₹9.64 crore — a stark illustration of how generative AI is now a frontline tool for financial crime in India.
Key Takeaways
Surat City Police arrested Parvez (25) and Irsad (30) from Nuh district, Haryana on 16 September 2026 for running an old coin scam using a deepfake of Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakia .
The accused allegedly created fake Facebook , Instagram , and WhatsApp accounts impersonating Dholakia, alongside forged Aadhaar and PAN cards.
A deepfake video, reportedly prepared using ChatGPT , showed Dholakia appearing to promote old coin exchanges for large sums.
Financial transactions in the accused's SBI accounts totalled ₹7,87,890 combined across the period examined.
Nine complaints on the NCCRP against four linked accounts point to alleged total fraud of ₹9.64 crore across multiple states.
Police have advised the public not to transfer money for registration, RBI, or delivery charges for old coin deals without independent verification.
Surat City Police on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, arrested two men from Haryana for allegedly running an 'old coin' scam in which they used the identity of Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakia — including a deepfake video — to defraud victims across multiple states. The accused, Parvez (25) and Irsad (30), both residents of Dhadhola village, Nuh district, Haryana, were traced and detained by the Cyber Crime Branch, Surat.
How the Scam Operated
According to police, the accused allegedly harvested photographs of MP Govind Dholakia from social media and used them to create fake Facebook and Instagram profiles and pages under the name 'Old Coin Company', alongside a WhatsApp account called 'Govind Bhai'. They allegedly fabricated Aadhaar and PAN cards bearing Dholakia's name to lend the operation an air of legitimacy.
Investigators say the gang then allegedly produced a deepfake or digitally altered video — reportedly prepared using ChatGPT — in which Dholakia appeared to endorse the exchange of old coins and currency notes for substantial sums of money. This video was circulated through the fake accounts to attract victims.
How Victims Were Targeted
Prospective victims who responded to the advertisements were allegedly contacted through the 'Govind Bhai' WhatsApp account, where the operators claimed to be Dholakia himself. After convincing targets that their old coins or notes commanded large payouts, the accused allegedly demanded money for supposed registration fees, verification charges, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) charges, and delivery costs — routed through multiple bank accounts, UPI IDs, and QR codes.
Financial Trail and Scale of Alleged Fraud
A financial audit of the accused's accounts revealed that Parvez's State Bank of India (SBI) account recorded transactions totalling ₹4,37,986 between 2 May 2025 and 21 January 2026. Irsad's SBI account logged transactions worth ₹3,49,904 between 30 August 2025 and 29 April 2026. Police recovered details of 10 bank accounts linked to the duo.
Checks on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) revealed nine complaints across different states against four of these accounts, involving an alleged total fraud of ₹9.64 crore. This underlines that the operation, while dismantled in Surat, had a pan-India reach.
Legal Action and Investigation
The case was registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station, Surat, under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 356, 338, 340(2), 336(3), 336(4), 61(2) and 3(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Amendment Act, 2008. A team led by Police Sub Inspector V B Prajapati was dispatched to Haryana following technical analysis that pointed to the state as the hub of operations.
This comes amid a broader surge in deepfake-enabled financial fraud across India, where AI-generated content is increasingly being weaponised to impersonate public figures and extract money from unsuspecting citizens.
Police Advisory to the Public
Surat City Police have urged citizens not to trust online advertisements promising large sums for old coins or notes, and to refrain from transferring money for registration, verification, RBI charges, or delivery without independent verification. They also cautioned the public against relying solely on photographs, videos, or identity documents purportedly belonging to public representatives, noting that such material can now be fabricated with relative ease using widely available AI tools.
Authorities say the investigation is continuing, and further arrests cannot be ruled out as police examine the full network of 10 bank accounts recovered from the accused.
Point of View
As many victims of such scams never file formal complaints. The impersonation of a sitting Rajya Sabha MP also raises uncomfortable questions about how public figures' digital footprints are weaponised, and whether India's IT Act penalties — written well before the deepfake era — are a sufficient deterrent for crimes of this scale and sophistication.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the old coin scam involving MP Govind Dholakia?
It is a cyber fraud in which a Haryana-based gang allegedly used the identity of Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakia — including fake social media profiles and a deepfake video — to convince victims that their old coins and currency notes were worth large sums, then extracted money under the guise of registration, verification, and RBI charges. Surat City Police arrested two accused, Parvez and Irsad, on 16 September 2026.
How was the deepfake video in this case created?
According to police, the accused allegedly used ChatGPT or similar AI tools to prepare a digitally altered video in which Govind Dholakia appeared to promote the exchange of old coins and notes for substantial sums. The video was then circulated through fake Facebook and Instagram accounts to attract victims.
How much money was allegedly defrauded across all victims?
Checks on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP) revealed nine complaints across different states against four of the accused's bank accounts, involving an alleged total fraud of ₹9.64 crore. The accused's own SBI accounts showed combined transactions of roughly ₹7.87 lakh during the periods examined.
Who are the two men arrested in this case?
The arrested accused are Parvez (25) and Irsad (30), both residents of Dhadhola village in Nuh district, Haryana. They were traced and arrested by a Surat Cyber Crime Branch team led by Police Sub Inspector V B Prajapati after technical analysis indicated the operation was being run from Haryana.
How can people protect themselves from old coin scams?
Surat City Police have advised the public not to trust online advertisements promising large payouts for old coins or notes, and not to transfer money for registration, verification, RBI charges, or delivery without independently verifying claims. They also cautioned against accepting photographs, videos, or identity documents at face value, as these can now be fabricated using AI tools.
