UP Class 11 Student Stages Own Kidnapping For ₹1 Lakh To Repay Online Gaming Debt, Uses AI-Generated Injury Photo

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: A Class 11 student from Sant Kabir Nagar allegedly fabricated his own kidnapping to coerce his father into paying Rs 1 lakh, incurred through online gaming debts. The devious teenager utilised an AI-generated image, depicting an injury to his eye, to bolster the credibility of his fabricated story. The teen, who lived in Dhanghata, allegedly cut off his mobile phone and sent the ransom demand through WhatsApp, which led to the police getting involved.

It was discovered that he had used public Wi-Fi for sending these messages, which later became a key piece of evidence for the investigators. The businessman father lodged an FIR in Sikriganj police station after receiving the ransom messages. Despite the teenager’s mobile being switched off, police traced him to his friend's house within two hours using surveillance and digital trail data.

Upon interrogation, he confessed to having planned the entire scenario, adding that a female friend from Delhi had helped him create the AI-generated injury image to provide the kidnapping scenario with authenticity. The businessman, who has three children, got furious upon learning of his son's deceit and slapped him. The teenager was then handed over to his father. The case has highlighted the potential misuse of AI-generated images to fabricate emergencies.