Class 11 UP student uses AI to fake his own kidnapping, extort money from father with injured-eye images

A Class 11 student in Uttar Pradesh allegedly staged his own kidnapping to obtain money from his businessman father and repay debts accumulated through online gaming, according to a TOI report. The teenager reportedly used an AI-generated image showing what appeared to be an injured eye, sent ransom messages and first demanded Rs 1 lakh before raising the amount to Rs 2 lakh.

The alleged kidnapping plot was exposed within hours after police traced the teenager to a friend's house in Birhi Buzurg village under the Uruwa Bazar police station limits. He was found safe at around 2 am, according to police.

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Student switches off phone, sends kidnapping messages

According to SP (South) Dinesh Kumar Puri, the student, who lives in the Dhanghata area of Sant Kabir Nagar, left his home at around 7 pm on Tuesday and told his family he was going to Sikriganj.

After reaching Sikriganj, he switched off his mobile phone and subsequently sent WhatsApp messages to his father between 7.39 pm and 9.47 pm, claiming that he had been kidnapped.

To reinforce the claim, the teenager sent his father a photograph depicting what appeared to be a badly injured eye. Police later found that the image was fabricated.

He allegedly demanded Rs 1 lakh from his father and asked him to transfer the amount online. When his father said he could not make an online payment, the teenager reportedly demanded Rs 2 lakh in cash.

The father then approached the police.

Police trace teenager to friend's house

Investigators began tracking the digital trail and identified the location where the teenager's phone had been switched off, leading them to Sikriganj.

Dhanghata police asked the father to coordinate with Sikriganj police, and he reached the area around midnight as the search continued. Police also placed the teenager's mobile number under surveillance.

The investigation eventually led officers to Birhi Buzurg village in the Uruwa Bazar area. A police team reached the location at around 2 am and found the teenager at a friend's house.

There was no kidnapping or hostage situation, and the teenager was found safe.

Online gaming debts allegedly behind the hoax

During questioning, the student reportedly admitted that he had fabricated the kidnapping. Police said he had become addicted to online gaming and had borrowed substantial amounts from friends and acquaintances to continue playing.

According to the police, he was facing pressure from creditors and allegedly decided to seek money from his father without disclosing that the funds were required to repay gaming-related debts.

The alleged plan involved leaving home, switching off his phone, sending fake ransom messages and using the digitally generated injury image as supposed evidence of an assault.

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Girlfriend allegedly helped create AI image

The teenager reportedly told investigators that his girlfriend, who lives in Delhi, helped generate the fake image of his injured eye using an AI tool.

Police are examining the circumstances surrounding the creation of the image and whether anyone else was involved in the alleged plan.

The teenager is the only son among three sisters. His father, who initially believed that his son had been kidnapped, was reportedly furious after learning that the incident had been fabricated.

Police later handed the teenager over to his family after questioning.