Telugu mega star and former Union minister Konidela Chiranjeevi has filed two police complaints accusing unknown people of creating a deep fake pornographic video using his facial features and trolling him, saying it disrupted his “dignity, reputation and mental wellbeing”.
In the first complaint, filed Saturday, Chiranjeevi alleged that an “entirely fabricated” AI-generated pornographic deepfake video that superimpose his likeness on someone performing obscene acts was being circulated and monetised on at least three pornographic websites. In the videos Chiranjeevi is shown with a woman identified as a Bollywood actress.
The complaint, filed with Hyderabad’s cybercrime police wing, read: “The unrestricted public accessibility of these videos makes the offence extremely grave and calls for immediate blocking, takedown and digital forensic tracing of those responsible for creating, uploading and circulating this content”. The content, which is being used by several mirror websites too, is disrupting his “reputation and mental peace”, Chiranjeevi said in the complaint filed by his legal counsel.
As the content was being monetised widely, it reflects the working of an “organised cybercrime network aimed at commercial gain,” his complaint read.
The actor contented that, “these manufactured videos are being maliciously used to portray me in obscene and vulgar contexts, thereby distorting public perception and undermining decades of goodwill. Such acts not only inflict personal and emotional distress upon me and my loved ones but also mislead the general public by creating a false and defamatory narrative that contradicts my true character and public image.”
“The fake videos are a direct and deliberate violation of my right to privacy, reputation, and dignity, protected under Article 21 of the Constitution,” the actor said.
Chiranjeevi also presented a September 26 ad-interim injunction from the City Civil Court, Hyderabad, which issued an order restraining digital media outlets, YouTube channels and other entities from using his name, titles, images and photographs for commercial purposes, thereby protecting his personality rights.
Story continues below this ad
“I request you to initiate immediate investigation against the accused involved in the creation, uploading, hosting, and dissemination of the AI-generated pornographic content,” the actor said.
Acting on the complaint lodged by the actor, police registered a case Saturday night under Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, Sections 79 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 294 (Sale etc of obscene books, etc.), 296 (Obscene acts and songs) and 336(4) (Forgery for the purpose of harming reputation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Sections 2(c), 3 and 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women Act.
The complaint against the AI-generated video was followed by another complaint filed Monday, in which the Tollywood actor accused people of posting abusive content against him on social media.
According to the actor, anonymous users operating the handle “@chowdary_daya11” and several others used obscene Telugu slurs at him. “I am being stalked and targeted viciously by such people who are unknown to me for unknown reasons in spite of the court order I have obtained from the Chief Judge, City Civil Court, Hyderabad. Such vulgar language is causing me great injury and harm to my reputation resulting in trauma,” Chiranjeevi said in his complaint.
