Maharashtra Cyber Traces 429 Disinformation Accounts in Mumbai

Maharashtra Cyber has identified 429 objectionable social media posts and profiles involved in a coordinated disinformation campaign during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests held last week in Mumbai. State cyber officials reported that a network of social media accounts spread misleading and artificial intelligence-generated content across digital platforms to manipulate public perception, create confusion, provoke unrest, and disturb public order.

The flagged posts and accounts were identified across popular platforms, including Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube. According to a police officer from Maharashtra Cyber, advanced scientific detection was conducted using the agency’s state-of-the-art audio-video forensic analysis tools. This forensic analysis established that more than 140 posts and profiles explicitly involved AI-generated or AI-assisted material.

Specific forms of manipulation uncovered during the forensic investigation included digitally inflated crowd visuals, synthetic voice generation, cloned audio clips, and manipulated videos falsely attributed to public figures. Investigators revealed that approximately 100 of the flagged social media accounts were operating from locations outside India.

Police officers mentioned that anti-social elements operating from foreign jurisdictions, particularly from Pakistan and certain Middle Eastern countries, were amplifying these misleading narratives specifically targeting Indian audiences. In response, Maharashtra Cyber has initiated formal legal action against the identified accounts, which includes coordinating with social media intermediaries for the swift takedown of the objectionable content.

Alongside the cyber investigation, local law enforcement authorities in Mumbai have taken extensive action regarding the physical demonstrations. The Mumbai Police have registered more than 20 FIRs in connection with the protests across the city, booking over 1,000 young men and women, including the organizers of several protest demonstrations.

A police officer stated that law enforcement officials have already started summoning individuals and sending formal legal notices to the youths involved in the protests. Senior police officers are slated to decide the future course of legal action as investigations into both the physical protests and online disinformation continue.