Viral Fame Built on AI Deception
An Instagram account under the name Babydoll Archi quickly rose to fame, gaining over 1.4 million followers in just a few days after viral posts, including a video of a woman in a red sari dancing to a Romanian song and a photo with adult film star Kendra Lust. The name trended across search engines and social media, sparking memes and speculation. But the truth was soon uncovered—there was no real influencer behind it.
The images were actually manipulated photos of a woman named Sanchi, a homemaker from Dibrugarh, Assam. The account was created by her ex-boyfriend, Pratim Bora, as an act of revenge. Bora, a mechanical engineer and self-taught AI enthusiast, used private pictures of Sanchi and AI tools like ChatGPT and Dzine to build a fake online persona. The account, launched in 2020, started posting altered photos in May 2021 and gradually gained attention, especially from April this year.
Arrest and Police Investigation
The truth came to light when Sanchi's brother filed a police complaint on 11 July, including evidence of the photos and videos. Investigators discovered that Bora had been behind the deepfake account. He was arrested the next day, on 12 July, from the neighbouring district of Tinsukia. His devices, including laptops and phones, were seized. Police revealed that Bora monetised the account, earning around 1 million rupees, including 300,000 rupees in just five days.
Sanchi, who is not active on social media, was unaware of the account until mainstream media started covering Babydoll Archi. The account had 282 posts and was tied to 3,000 subscriptions on Linktree. It has since been removed from public view, though much of its content continues to circulate online.
Legal Action and Growing Concerns
Authorities have charged Bora under several laws related to sexual harassment, obscenity, defamation, and cybercrime. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison. AI expert and lawyer Meghna Bal called the case "horrible" and warned that such incidents may become more common or remain hidden due to stigma.
While India has laws that cover cases like this, there are increasing calls for new legislation focused on AI misuse. Bal stressed the importance of crafting laws carefully so that they protect people without harming free speech.
Sanchi and her family are now receiving counselling, but the case has left a deep impact. Police say the incident could have been contained earlier, but the lack of awareness and her absence from social media delayed any action.
