The Delhi Police have registered an FIR after a woman alleged that her photograph was digitally morphed using artificial intelligence and face-swapping technology and displayed alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image on banners at a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.
The FIR was registered at the Parliament Street police station on the woman’s complaint against unknown persons. The statement forming part of the FIR names CJP functionaries Abhijit Dipke, Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Ratna Singh, alleging that they and their accomplices were responsible for the unauthorised use of her photograph. However, the four names do not appear in the “Accused” column of the FIR.
“I want to inform all my brothers and sisters that @DelhiPolice has finally registered the FIR after quite a long time. .Delhi Police, posters were waved right in front of you during the cockroach protest at Jantar Mantar—had you stopped those criminals back then, these editors wouldn’t have the audacity today. Now I hope that @DelhiPolice will catch these 🪳🪳 criminals as soon as possible,” she said on X.
According to the complaint, the woman had no association with the CJP or its demonstration and had not consented to the use of her photograph. She alleged that her personal photograph was taken and digitally manipulated using AI and face-swapping tools to create a fabricated and compromising image showing her alongside PM Modi.
She alleged that the image was subsequently printed on large banners and posters and publicly displayed, waved and paraded during the protest at Jantar Mantar. The complaint further alleges that derogatory slogans and vulgar, sexually suggestive comments were made in connection with the image in front of a gathering.
The woman also alleged that videos showing the banners and the slogans were recorded at the protest and later circulated on social media, particularly Instagram, with indecent captions and defamatory commentary.
In her complaint, she described the alleged use of her photograph as a “planned cybercrime” and an attempt at “public character assassination”, saying the image had been “weaponised” without her consent to sensationalise the demonstration. She alleged that the incident had caused her distress and fear and tarnished her reputation.
The complaint also contains allegations of intimidation and harassment, with the woman claiming that some men threatened her and behaved in a manner that outraged her modesty during the protest.
A police officer said the allegations were being investigated and that the matter was being examined from all angles.
The alleged incident took place during the CJP’s agitation at Jantar Mantar. The protest, which began in June, included demonstrations against alleged irregularities in examinations and demands, including the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The CJP called off its demonstration on July 25 after announcing that the government had accepted its demands.