The Maharashtra Cyber Department has confirmed that a viral intimate clip falsely linked to gaming influencer Payal Dhare was an AI-generated deepfake. Investigations led to the arrest of the creator, highlighting growing concerns over misuse of AI in cyber abuse cases.
The online furor over an intimate clip falsely linked to gaming influencer Payal Dhare , widely known as Payal Gaming , has been resolved by law enforcement after forensic analysis confirmed the footage was an AI-generated deepfake and investigators identified the person who created and circulated it.
According to the lead article by BollywoodShaadis, Payal Dhare publicly denied the clip and called the fabrication “deeply hurtful” and “dehumanising” in an Instagram post on December 17, 2025; the same report says Maharashtra Cyber officials later tracked down the creator, who identified himself as Abhishek Jadhav and issued a filmed apology, and that arrests and legal notices followed in January 2026. [1]
Maharashtra State Cyber Department analysis, dated December 19, 2025, certified that the 19-minute clip had been “tampered with and modified” and concluded it was produced using artificial intelligence. According to The Economic Times, the certificate was issued by the Office of the Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra State Cyber Department, after the clip was examined with advanced technological tools. [2]
The cyber cell’s findings have been echoed by multiple national outlets. Mint and the Hindustan Times report that the department formally registered a criminal investigation following Dhare’s complaint and that preliminary forensic work established the clip was not of the influencer. Those accounts say the case was pursued to identify both the uploader and the network responsible for circulation. [3][4]
Police action has been taken under a range of statutes. Mid-Day and OneIndia note that FIR No. 52/2025 was registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, covering offences such as online defamation, identity fraud and the publication of sexually explicit material; some reports list specific sections including 3(5), 79 and 356(2) of the BNS, section 67 of the IT Act and relevant provisions of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. [5][6]
Local authorities released images and a video clip on their official social channels showing one accused acknowledging responsibility and apologising to Payal Gaming and to Maharashtra Cyber; Business Connect and BollywoodShaadis report the individual disclosed his Instagram handle ‘dobiga’ and admitted creating the deepfake. Investigators said further arrests were expected as they map the wider distribution network. [7][1]
The episode underscores growing concerns about the misuse of AI to create intimate deepfakes that target public figures, particularly women, and the reputational and mental-health harms that follow. Industry observers quoted in coverage warn that as generative tools become more accessible, forensic capability and prompt policing will be critical to deterring abuse and to providing recourse for victims.
📌 Reference Map:
##Reference Map:
- [1] (BollywoodShaadis) – Paragraph 2, Paragraph 6
- [2] (The Economic Times) – Paragraph 3
- [3] (Mint) – Paragraph 4
- [4] (Hindustan Times) – Paragraph 4
- [5] (Mid-Day) – Paragraph 5
- [6] (OneIndia) – Paragraph 5
- [7] (Business Connect Magazine) – Paragraph 6
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The earliest known publication date of the narrative is December 17, 2025, when Payal Dhare publicly denied the clip and called the fabrication ‘deeply hurtful’ and ‘dehumanising’ in an Instagram post. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([indulgexpress.com](https://www.indulgexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/celebs/2025/Dec/17/payal-gamings-deepfake-video-sparks-concern-over-ai-abuse-and-online-harassment?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The direct quotes from Payal Dhare’s Instagram post on December 17, 2025, are consistent across multiple sources, indicating potential reuse. No significant variations in wording were found. ([indulgexpress.com](https://www.indulgexpress.com/amp/story/entertainment/celebs/2025/Dec/17/payal-gamings-deepfake-video-sparks-concern-over-ai-abuse-and-online-harassment?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from BollywoodShaadis, a source that is not widely recognised for news reporting. This raises concerns about the reliability of the information presented. ([economictimes.indiatimes.com](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/after-19-minute-viral-video-row-payal-dhare-embroiled-in-controversy-maharashtra-cyber-police-issues-big-update-in-popular-youtubers-case/articleshow/126087637.cms?from=mdr&utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about the deepfake video and the involvement of Maharashtra Cyber Police are plausible and align with reports from other reputable outlets. However, the lack of supporting detail from any other reputable outlet in the narrative raises concerns. ([economictimes.indiatimes.com](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/after-19-minute-viral-video-row-payal-dhare-embroiled-in-controversy-maharashtra-cyber-police-issues-big-update-in-popular-youtubers-case/articleshow/126087637.cms?from=mdr&utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents a plausible account of the Payal Gaming deepfake video case, with consistent quotes and no paywalled content. However, the source’s reliability is questionable, and the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets raises concerns. Given these issues, the content cannot be covered under our indemnity.
