Cyber Police Crack Down on Payal Gaming Deepfake Case, Multiple Uploaders Apprehended

Payal gaming

Last month, things heated up when a deepfake video of popular Indian gaming creator Payal Dhare, better known as Payal Gaming, went viral across social media. From Instagram to Reddit, it sparked discussions about how deepfakes can damage someone’s reputation.

Payal acted quickly, reporting the incident to the Maharashtra Cyber Police, who promptly confirmed it was a deepfake and issued a notice.

Now, less than a month into the investigation, they’ve identified the culprit.

The cybercrime department confirmed it has successfully tracked down and taken action against those responsible for spreading the objectionable deepfake content online.

According to an official statement released by Maharashtra Cyber, several individuals involved in uploading and spreading the objectionable content have already been served official notices.

These individuals have also issued public apologies acknowledging their wrongdoing. You can see them below:

"Maharashtra Cyber has successfully detected and acted against the Payal Gaming deepfake case. Several uploaders have been apprehended, served notices, and have issued public apologies," the statement revealed.

The investigation hasn't stopped there. Maharashtra Cyber also confirmed that one of the original uploaders of the deepfake content has been identified and will be apprehended shortly.

The department is continuing to trace the complete distribution chain of the video to ensure everyone involved faces appropriate consequences.

Maharashtra Cyber also released an official video statement outlining the actions taken in this case. Officials made it clear that they're serious about cracking down on anyone misusing technology to spread false or defamatory content online. The video reinforced that strict action awaits those who violate cyber laws, particularly in cases involving deepfakes and identity misuse.

On a lighter note, Payal Gaming won the Best Content Creator of the Year (Female) and Fans' Choice Favourite Creator (Female) at the inaugural Krafton India Awards 2025.