3 held for posting AI-generated obscene images of Kannada actor Rukmani Vasanth - The Indian Express

In June 2026, the Karnataka cybercrime police unit arrested three individuals responsible for circulating AI-generated, obscene content depicting Kannada film actor Rukmani Vasanth. The actress, known for her role in the Kantara 2 franchise, reported the incident to authorities after the materials were disseminated on social media to damage her reputation and privacy.

What happened

The investigation revealed that the suspects used Artificial Intelligence technology to create derogatory images and videos of the actress, intending to misrepresent her to the public. According to the Director-General of Police of the Karnataka CID and cyber crime unit, Pranab Mohanty, these actions caused significant mental harassment and violated the actress's personal privacy.

The suspects were identified as 24-year-old Ravi Kumar G from Bagalkot, 33-year-old Chandrakanth Gowda, and 25-year-old Ranjith R. Following a complaint filed by the actress, a special police team was constituted to trace the origins of the online posts. By analyzing technical evidence, investigators identified the perpetrators and seized three mobile phones used to facilitate the crime.

The Bengaluru Cyber Crime Police Station registered the case under multiple sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000, including charges related to identity theft, the transmission of obscene material, and violation of privacy. Additionally, the suspects were charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering offenses such as sexual harassment, insulting the modesty of a woman, forgery, and intimidation. The three individuals have since been sent to judicial custody. This incident follows a broader trend of actors within the Kannada film industry facing harassment through the misuse of AI and morphed content.