Maharashtra Cyber Police file FIR over AI-morphed videos targeting Modi, Piyush Goyal
Synopsis
Maharashtra Cyber Police have filed an FIR against unidentified individuals for allegedly circulating AI-generated and morphed videos of Union Minister Piyush Goyal — one falsely depicting him calling protesters 'cockroaches' — and objectionable content targeting PM Modi. The case signals a sharpening legal response to political deepfakes in India.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra Nodal Cyber Police registered an FIR on 31 July over allegedly AI-generated and morphed videos targeting Union Minister Piyush Goyal and PM Narendra Modi .
A Facebook account named 'Maharashtra Dharma' allegedly posted a manipulated video falsely showing Goyal calling student protesters 'cockroaches' and calling for their public hanging.
The complaint also flagged a morphed image of PM Modi on Facebook, an objectionable Instagram video, and a clip containing abusive language against the Prime Minister.
The FIR invokes Sections 318(2), 336, 352, 353(1), 353(2), 356(1), and 356(2) of the BNS and Sections 66(D) and 67 of the IT Act .
The complaint was filed by a BJP social media office-bearer; police are working to identify the account operators.
Maharashtra Cyber Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) over the alleged circulation of AI-generated and morphed videos targeting Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials confirmed on 31 July. The case was set in motion after a complaint filed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) social media office-bearer, and the Maharashtra Nodal Cyber Police have since launched a formal investigation against unidentified individuals.
What the FIR Alleges
According to the complaint, morphed or AI-generated videos of Union Minister Piyush Goyal were widely circulated across social media platforms during recent student protests. One such video, reportedly posted from a Facebook account named 'Maharashtra Dharma', carried a caption claiming that Goyal had spoken about publicly hanging protesters and referred to them as 'cockroaches.'
The complainant alleged that Goyal appeared to be making these objectionable remarks in the clip. However, upon comparing the footage with an original video released by a news outlet, the complainant concluded that the clip had allegedly been digitally manipulated or fabricated using artificial intelligence tools.
Content Targeting PM Modi
Beyond the Goyal videos, the complaint also flagged several posts targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These reportedly included an allegedly morphed image of the Prime Minister shared via a Facebook account, an objectionable video circulated on Instagram, and a separate video containing abusive language directed at him. According to the complaint, this content was disseminated with the intent of spreading misinformation, provoking public unrest, and insulting individuals holding constitutional positions.
Legal Sections Invoked
The FIR has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — specifically Sections 318(2), 336, 352, 353(1), 353(2), 356(1), and 356(2) — along with Sections 66(D) and 67 of the Information Technology (IT) Act. The BNS sections cover offences including cheating, forgery, defamation, and statements conducing to public mischief, while the IT Act provisions address online fraud and publishing obscene material in electronic form.
Investigation Underway
Police officials stated that efforts are currently underway to identify and trace the operators of the social media accounts involved. This case comes amid a broader national conversation about the misuse of generative AI tools to create deepfakes targeting political figures — a concern that has prompted calls for dedicated regulatory frameworks. The investigation remains ongoing, and no arrests have been reported so far.
Point of View
Which will inevitably draw scrutiny over whether such provisions are being selectively invoked. More substantively, the case highlights a genuine and growing threat: AI tools that can fabricate politically incendiary content at scale, with near-zero barrier to entry. India lacks a dedicated deepfake law, meaning police must stretch existing BNS and IT Act provisions — a framework that legal experts argue is ill-equipped for synthetic media. The real test will be whether investigators can pierce the anonymity of the accounts involved, and whether convictions follow — or whether this remains another FIR that signals intent without delivering accountability.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Maharashtra Cyber Police register an FIR over AI-generated videos?
The FIR was registered following a complaint by a BJP social media office-bearer alleging that AI-generated and morphed videos falsely depicting Union Minister Piyush Goyal making inflammatory remarks were circulated during student protests. Objectionable content targeting PM Narendra Modi was also flagged in the complaint.
What did the allegedly morphed Piyush Goyal video claim?
The video, reportedly posted from a Facebook account named 'Maharashtra Dharma', carried a caption claiming Goyal had called for publicly hanging student protesters and referred to them as 'cockroaches.' The complainant alleged the clip was digitally manipulated after comparing it with an original video from a news source.
Under which legal sections has the FIR been filed?
The FIR invokes Sections 318(2), 336, 352, 353(1), 353(2), 356(1), and 356(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), covering offences such as cheating, forgery, and defamation, along with Sections 66(D) and 67 of the Information Technology Act, which address online fraud and publishing obscene electronic content.
Have any arrests been made in the Maharashtra deepfake case?
No arrests have been reported so far. Police officials stated that efforts are underway to identify and trace the operators of the social media accounts involved, and the investigation is ongoing.
What content targeting PM Modi was flagged in the complaint?
The complaint highlighted an allegedly morphed image of PM Modi shared via a Facebook account, an objectionable video on Instagram, and a separate video containing abusive language directed at the Prime Minister — all allegedly circulated to spread misinformation and provoke public discontent.
