A second-year student of Bharata Mata College in Thrikkakara, Ernakulam was detained by police after accusations that he created and circulated digitally morphed images of fellow students and teachers, resulting in protests and concern surrounding the college campus.

The Thrikkakara police filed a case after the college management filed a formal complaint regarding the alleged circulation of manipulated photographs. The incident reportedly came to the attention of a teacher by a former student.

According to the college principal, Soumya Thomas, the institution's disciplinary committee conducted an internal inquiry into the accusations. Upon reviewing them, the college confirmed that the allegations against the student were accurate and dismissed him. In addition, his mobile phone was handed over to the police for investigation.

The incident sparked protests on campus, with students demanding strict action against those responsible. Some students took part in a sit-in protest outside the college office, raising concerns about whether the images were circulated to a wider audience and whether other students might have been involved.

In addition, some protesters accused the accused student of being allowed to leave the campus with his relatives before the police were notified. The college administration, however, stated that it was cooperating with the police investigation and any further action would be taken based on the findings of the authorities.

In addition, students raised concerns that other content could be present on other devices or be shared via online platforms. The college management said it had not verified claims about the involvement of additional students.

Police have launched a detailed investigation into the alleged creation and circulation of the morphed images. A case has reportedly been registered under provisions relating to insulting the modesty of a woman, publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically and violation of privacy through the circulation of photographs.

Investigators are carrying out a forensic examination of the student's mobile phone and examining the online platforms where the images were allegedly shared. The investigation should find out how the images were created, whether they were shared with others and whether additional people were involved in their distribution.

The incident has once again raised concerns about digital safety and the potential misuse of technology on educational campuses. As morphed and manipulated images become easier to create and circulate, institutions are increasingly being forced to confront questions around student privacy, online harassment and the responsibility of digital platforms.

The police investigation is continuing and further action is expected, based on the forensic findings and evidence collected during the inquiry.

A major cyber fraud network allegedly involved in transactions worth Rs 116.86 crore has been busted in Varanasi, with police arresting four people, including the alleged mastermind, Nitish Kumar Pandey of Sasaram in Bihar.

The operation was carried out jointly by the Cyber Crime Cell and Varanasi Police following an investigation into a network that allegedly used bank accounts opened in other people's names to facilitate cyber fraud, investment scams and betting-related transactions.

Bank Accounts Taken on Commission

According to investigators, the gang allegedly approached individuals with offers of commissions in exchange for allowing bank accounts to be opened or operated in their names.

These accounts were subsequently allegedly used to receive and transfer money linked to cyber fraud, investment schemes and betting applications.

Police said the network created a chain of bank accounts to move the proceeds, making it difficult to trace the source and destination of the money.

How the Gang Intercepted OTPs

Investigators also uncovered the alleged use of an Android application package (APK) called ‘XePay’.

According to police, the accused used the APK to activate SMS forwarding on mobile phones. This allegedly enabled them to intercept one-time passwords (OTPs) sent by banks.

By gaining access to OTPs, the accused could allegedly obtain the authentication required to operate the linked bank accounts and carry out financial transactions.

Police said the money generated through the alleged fraud was then routed through multiple accounts.

143 Cybercrime Complaints Linked

The investigation found links between the network and 143 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP).

Police identified 41 bank accounts allegedly associated with the gang. The combined fraud linked to the accounts is estimated at approximately Rs 116.86 crore.

The scale of the alleged transactions has prompted investigators to examine the wider network and identify other individuals whose accounts may have been used.

Police Seize Phones, Cards and QR Scanners

During the operation, authorities seized several items allegedly connected with the cyber fraud operation.

The recovered material included:

• 7 mobile phones
• 1 laptop
• 19 chequebooks
• 40 debit cards
• 48 QR scanners
• 2 vehicles

Four people have been arrested in connection with the case, with Nitish Kumar Pandey identified as the alleged mastermind.

The police investigation is continuing to determine the full extent of the network, trace the flow of funds and identify other people who may have been involved.

The case also highlights how cybercriminal networks increasingly rely on mule bank accounts, digital payment systems and mobile-based OTP interception to move and access illegally obtained funds.

An interstate cybercrime gang allegedly targeting devotees through fake websites of hotels, dharamshalas and ashrams near popular religious destinations across India has been busted by Gujarat Police, with two people arrested in connection with the racket.

The accused allegedly created 126 fake websites across 11 states, including around 40-41 portals targeting religious destinations in Gujarat. The websites offered services such as accommodation bookings, online puja and VIP darshan, allegedly collecting advance payments from devotees.

According to an investigation by the Gujarat Cyber Center of Excellence, around 21,985 people across the country were allegedly cheated through the racket, with the fraud amount running into crores of rupees.

The arrested accused have been identified as Vicky Gupta, a BTech engineer from Delhi who police allege was the mastermind, and Shailesh Saini, a resident of Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Investigators said Gupta operated the network from his home, while Saini allegedly assisted with financial transactions and technical operations.

AI images used to make fake websites appear genuine

According to investigators, the accused allegedly used their technical expertise and AI-generated images to make the fraudulent websites appear authentic.

The portals reportedly appeared in online searches when devotees looked for accommodation, puja bookings, VIP darshan and other services near popular pilgrimage destinations.

Once visitors contacted the operators through the websites, they were allegedly asked to make advance payments. The fraud was often discovered only after devotees reached their destination and found that their bookings did not exist.

Police said the racket had been operating for around eight months. The accused allegedly changed domain names frequently to evade detection by cybercrime agencies and continue targeting new victims.

Gujarat religious destinations among major targets

Religious destinations in Gujarat were among the key targets of the alleged cyber fraud network. Investigators found around 40 fake portals created in the names of prominent religious sites across the state.

These included multiple websites targeting devotees visiting Salangpur Kashtabhanjan Dev, along with portals allegedly created in the names of Somnath at Prabhas Patan, Dwarka Jagat Mandir, the Palitana Jain shrine, Girnar and Ambaji in Junagadh, and Akshardham in Gandhinagar.

The alleged network also targeted devotees visiting several major religious destinations outside Gujarat, including Tirupati Devasthanam, Tirumala, Katra, Shirdi, Jagannath Puri, Vrindavan, Rishikesh and Haridwar.

70 cyber fraud complaints registered

Police said around 70 cyber fraud complaints connected to the alleged racket have been registered across the country so far.

Dr Rajdeepsinh Jhala, Superintendent of Police, Cyber Center of Excellence, said the investigation has now expanded beyond Gujarat. Two special police teams have reportedly been deployed outside the state to trace individuals allegedly involved in purchasing the 126 domains and creating the fraudulent websites.

Investigators are also examining the financial trail to determine how the money collected from victims was routed and whether additional people were involved in the interstate operation.

The police are continuing to identify more victims and assess the total amount allegedly siphoned off through the fake booking portals.

The case highlights the growing use of AI-generated content and professionally designed fake websites in cyber fraud, particularly in sectors where users are likely to make advance online payments. Devotees searching for accommodation, religious services or VIP darshan online may therefore need to verify booking portals through official temple or tourism websites before making payments.

A 16-year-old Class 11 student in Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur allegedly staged his own kidnapping after losing nearly ₹3 lakh in online games and used an AI-generated image to convince his father that he had been abducted, police said.

According to PTI, the teenager allegedly sought the help of his Delhi-based girlfriend to fabricate the kidnapping. They used artificial intelligence to create an image showing the boy with blood smeared across his face and tape over his mouth, making it appear that he had been assaulted and held captive.

Teen sends AI-generated kidnapping photo to father

The student reportedly sent the AI-generated photograph to his father on WhatsApp along with a ransom demand of ₹1 lakh. The message allegedly threatened that he would be killed if the money was not transferred.

When his father said he could not arrange the amount, the teenager allegedly increased the demand to ₹2 lakh and instructed him to bring the money in cash.

Fearing for his son’s safety, the father approached the police, prompting an investigation into the alleged kidnapping.

Police trace teenager through mobile phone

Police said the teenager had borrowed money from friends and others to fund his online gaming activities. He allegedly accumulated debts of nearly ₹3 lakh and resorted to the fake kidnapping after people began demanding repayment.

The boy reportedly left his home on Tuesday evening, telling his family that he was going to Sikriganj. He then switched his phone to flight mode.

Police, however, were able to track the device after it was connected to a friend’s Wi-Fi network. The mobile number was placed under surveillance and its location was traced to Sikriganj.

A police team reached the area at around 2 am and found the teenager at a friend’s house, effectively bringing the alleged kidnapping drama to an end.

Student admits staging fake abduction

During questioning, the teenager allegedly admitted that he had fabricated the kidnapping story to obtain money from his family and repay debts accumulated through online gaming.

Additional SP South Dinesh Kumar Puri said on Wednesday evening that the student confessed to staging his own abduction.

Police are now investigating whether other individuals, including the teenager’s girlfriend and friends, were involved in helping him execute the plan.

The incident also highlights a growing concern around the misuse of artificial intelligence to create convincing but fabricated images. In this case, the AI-generated photograph was allegedly used to support a false kidnapping claim and pressure a family into paying ransom.

As AI-generated images become increasingly realistic and accessible, law enforcement agencies and families face new challenges in distinguishing genuine photographs from digitally fabricated evidence.

The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs has stepped up its crackdown on malicious digital lending applications, directing Google to remove or disable access to six loan apps from the Play Store.

The action followed an August 7 notice issued by I4C, which identified the applications as allegedly targeting Android users seeking quick loans. Google was given three hours from the issuance of the notice to take down or disable access to the specified URLs.

According to the information reviewed by Moneycontrol, the six applications had been taken down by August 12.

Six loan apps flagged by I4C

The applications named in the I4C notice are:

• LoanOrbit
• Hisab
• Nexus Loan
• One Fund
• Credit Factor
• Mobile Credit Prairie

I4C alleged that the applications presented themselves as legitimate digital lending platforms, offering users quick loan approvals and low interest rates.

However, the agency alleged that after loans were disbursed, borrowers were subjected to demands for “exorbitant interest rates” on the principal amount.

Apps accused of harvesting sensitive data

The cybercrime agency also raised concerns over the information allegedly collected by the applications after users downloaded them.

According to I4C, the apps were being used by alleged transnational criminals to collect sensitive personal and financial information, including Aadhaar details, financial information and users' contacts.

The notice also alleged that the applications could access information stored on users' devices, including the gallery and camera.

The allegations highlight the risks associated with unverified digital lending platforms that promise instant credit while seeking extensive permissions to access information on users' mobile devices.

Google asked to act within three hours

I4C also flagged the use of Google's advertising ecosystem to promote the applications, alleging that the malicious loan apps were being promoted through digital advertisements on the Play Store.

The agency directed Google to remove or disable access to the identified URLs within three hours while ensuring that relevant evidence was not compromised.

The notice referred to provisions under the Information Technology Rules, the Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in support of the action.

I4C cited Section 3(1)(b)(viii) of the IT Rules, Sections 43, 66 and 66D of the IT Act, and Section 318(4) of the BNS as provisions relevant to the alleged unlawful activities.

Growing scrutiny of digital lending apps

The action comes amid increasing scrutiny of digital lending platforms and malicious loan applications that exploit consumers seeking quick access to credit.

Cybercrime authorities have increasingly focused on applications that allegedly combine aggressive lending practices with access to users' personal data.

The latest action by I4C underscores the government's focus on identifying and restricting digital lending applications that allegedly misuse personal and financial information while operating through mainstream app distribution and advertising platforms.

An investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the 2018 Andhra Pradesh Group-I recruitment examination has uncovered alleged irregularities at several stages of the evaluation process, including the involvement of unauthorised evaluators, manual valuation at a private resort and extensive alterations in evaluation records.

The examination, conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) for recruitment to 169 Group-I posts, had attracted more than 1.14 lakh applications.

The SIT was constituted by the Andhra Pradesh government in February 2026 following directions from the High Court to scientifically investigate allegations of tampering and irregularities in the recruitment process.

According to the SIT report, irregularities were allegedly detected across three evaluation exercises — the original digital valuation in 2021, a manual valuation reportedly conducted at a private resort following a High Court order, and a second manual valuation carried out in Vijayawada in 2022.

Unauthorised evaluators in digital valuation

The SIT found alleged lapses in the original digital evaluation of the Group-I mains examination. It said the decision to introduce digital valuation and the panel of evaluators did not have the mandatory approval of the APPSC chairman.

Of the 158 evaluators in the secretary-approved panel, only 72 reportedly evaluated answer scripts. Another 25 individuals who were not part of the approved panel allegedly evaluated scripts and were paid for their work.

The SIT also noted that the approved panel largely comprised teachers and lecturers from private schools and colleges, rather than university-level subject experts contemplated under the APPSC Office Manual.

The digital evaluation was allegedly coordinated using unofficial private email accounts and Google Drive links. Investigators also detected differences between marks initially entered by evaluators and those appearing in the final digital-result database.

The SIT further alleged that second-evaluation marks were entered in some cases without an independent second examiner. Freelancer Mahamkali Raghuram was alleged to have made some such entries himself.

APPSC reportedly paid Rs 1.38 crore to Stone Media Advisory Services and TrueGrader for the digital evaluation, while Raghuram received approximately Rs 10 lakh for evaluation and coordination work.

Manual evaluation raises questions

After candidates challenged the digital evaluation, the High Court ordered manual valuation, observing that the notified methodology for digital evaluation was contrary to the recruitment notification.

The SIT subsequently found that the manual evaluation was conducted at a private resort rather than a government facility. It alleged that the exercise effectively involved re-entering previously generated digital marks.

The report also noted that answer scripts remained in the custody of a private agency for 84 days and raised allegations against then APPSC secretary PSR Anjaneyulu.

A second manual evaluation was conducted in Vijayawada in 2022 after D Gautam Sawang took charge as APPSC chairman. However, the SIT said it found no documentary record supporting the policy decision to conduct the exercise.

OMR alterations and CCTV lapses

The second manual evaluation allegedly revealed extensive alterations, including changes or overwriting in around 95% of the records examined, along with differences in ink and handwriting.

Forensic material was examined by Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) facilities in Hyderabad, New Delhi, Shimla, Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata and Guwahati.

The SIT also raised concerns about the security of confidential examination material. It found no CCTV coverage over APPSC's Confidential Sections or Strong Room during the original examination period.

During the 2022 fresh manual valuation, CCTV cameras were reportedly installed in only two confidential-section rooms initially. The Strong Room came under CCTV surveillance only on April 11, 2022 — 17 days after valuation began.

Investigators also found discrepancies between CCTV footage and the official Guard Register and noted that most examiners allegedly carried mobile phones inside manual valuation camps.

Another concern was the unusually high number of scripts requiring third evaluation. While only 0.45% of scripts reportedly required third evaluation in the previous Group-I recruitment, the figure rose to 10.2% in the 2018 process.

The SIT said the increase alone could not prove wrongdoing, but when considered alongside alleged overwriting, unauthorised corrections, signature mismatches and other forensic findings, it indicated serious inconsistencies.

A criminal case was registered in April 2025 under Sections 409, 477-A, 420 and 120-B read with Section 34 of the IPC. Camsign Media director P Madhusudhan Rao was arrested in May 2025, while Anjaneyulu was secured through a Prisoner Transit Warrant.

The SIT examined 173 witnesses and reviewed forensic reports, financial records, WhatsApp communications, electronic data, valuation records and videos as part of its investigation.