Man held over AI-generated video falsely portraying Delhi ACP Bhagat in sexual assault scene
New Delhi: A 24-year-old man arrested for allegedly circulating an AI-generated video falsely showing Delhi Police ACP Vivek Bhagat sexually assaulting a woman claimed to be an independent journalist, police said on Tuesday. He was running an Instagram account with around 24,000 followers.
Nadeem Ahmed Ameen, a resident of Haryana’s Palwal district, was apprehended from the Mewat region on Monday. Police said a mobile phone allegedly used to circulate the fabricated video was recovered from him.
Police probe possible larger conspiracy
Delhi Police said it was investigating whether the incident was part of a broader, pre-planned conspiracy aimed at maligning the image of the Delhi Police and creating dissatisfaction against the government.
Addressing a press conference, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Manjeet said Ameen claimed to be an independent journalist and operated the Instagram account @news_aaina0776.
According to police, the account was created in April and had around 24,000 followers and 1,226 posts.
Fake video presented as CCTV footage
Police said the manipulated reel was circulated through the Instagram account and presented as genuine CCTV footage.
The video allegedly showed a person dressed as a police officer engaging in sexually inappropriate conduct with a woman. ACP Bhagat’s photograph, name and designation were displayed alongside the purported footage, falsely suggesting that he was the person shown in the video, police said.
Also read | Priyanka Gandhi detained during INDIA bloc protest, later released
Phone contained evidence linked to reel
During the investigation, police identified Ameen as the user of the Instagram account.
The account through which the reel was circulated was found logged in on the mobile phone recovered from him, officials said. Investigators also found content and a photograph linked to the fabricated reel in the phone’s gallery.
A case was registered at the Cyber Police Station of New Delhi district on October 4 under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections dealing with intentional insult, public mischief, forgery, forged electronic records and obscene material.
Ameen was produced before a court following his arrest, and police custody was obtained for further investigation.
Police examine accused’s background and funding
Police said Ameen had studied at a madrassa in Saket and had failed Class 10. His father is a retired government Urdu lecturer, and Ameen is the sixth of seven brothers.
Investigators are also probing the source of funding behind the alleged activities and whether others were involved in creating and circulating the false content.
Police said they were identifying other social media accounts allegedly involved in spreading what they described as a false narrative intended to tarnish the Delhi Police’s image and create disaffection or dissatisfaction against the government.
Also read | ‘How many people will you arrest?’ CJP vows nationwide protests on Oct 10 despite govt threats
Case comes amid controversy over ACP Bhagat
The arrest comes against the backdrop of a separate controversy involving ACP Bhagat, who has been accused of sexually harassing a woman journalist during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Bhagat was promoted to the rank of additional deputy commissioner on Monday, along with three other officers from his batch. However, the order assigning him the additional charge was withdrawn on Tuesday.
The government said Bhagat, who was among 12 DANIPS officers given current-duty charge of additional DCP, had requested “of his own volition” not to take up the charge until a full inquiry into the allegations of harassment of women journalists was completed and “satisfactorily concluded”.