CB-CID registers case after deepfake video of Tamil Nadu…
The Tamil Nadu CB-CID cybercrime wing has launched an investigation into a deepfake video impersonating Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on social media
- Incident date
- Sep 2026
- Target
- C Joseph Vijay
On September 2, 2026, the CB-CID cybercrime wing initiated a formal investigation following the circulation of an AI-generated deepfake video featuring Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. The fraudulent content was disseminated across Facebook and various other social media platforms.
What happened
The deepfake video depicted a person resembling Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay speaking in Hindi, instructing individuals seeking financial assistance to contact a specific WhatsApp number. The state police social media centre identified the clip and alerted the CB-CID cybercrime wing, which subsequently registered a case.
Authorities have taken several steps to mitigate the impact of the impersonation. A request was sent to Meta to obtain details regarding the Facebook ID and logs associated with the upload. Investigators are currently working to identify the perpetrators and are taking measures to remove the malicious content from social media platforms. Preliminary investigations have confirmed that multiple AI-generated videos of the Chief Minister have been circulating online.
In response to the incident, police have issued a public warning urging citizens not to contact the phone numbers provided in these videos or join any associated WhatsApp groups. Officials advised the public to disregard instructions given in such fraudulent messages and to remain vigilant regarding AI-generated content impersonating public figures. The police have also encouraged the public to share information about the scam with friends and family to prevent further victimization.