A man was arrested at a mall in Mumbai just before the Prime Minister’s scheduled visit. He is accused of utilizing artificial intelligence to create counterfeit documents purportedly from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). This incident raises concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology in official communications.
MUMBAI: A 24-year-old Rohan Parikh, who was arrested for allegedly entering Jio World Plaza in BKC with a private security guard carrying a firearm while posing as a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) official, had allegedly been creating fake PMO documents using ChatGPT since 2025 to boost his self-esteem and impress people around him, police told the court. The court asked the police to file their reply by September 17. The matter was adjourned to September 17, 2026, for the police’s reply and hearing.
Defence counsel requested the police to file their reply so that they could move their bail applications. TOI reported in its Thursday edition that Parikh, who was arrested ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Jio World Plaza, may have forged a PMO identity card using AI.
The Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) did not seek further custody of Parikh and told the court that it needed to establish whether he had used the fake PMO identity card and documents for any other purposes. Advocate Satish Maneshinde said bail applications for both accused had been filed. Police said a laptop, hard drive and PMO-related documents were recovered from Parikh’s residence in Khar.
Police also sought time to examine his electronic devices and investigate the firearm allegedly used by Kunde. The 37th Metropolitan Magistrate, D S Khedekar, remanded Parikh and his private bodyguard, Dilip Kunde, to judicial custody. His mobile phone allegedly contained searches related to preparing PMO correspondence. Parikh also allegedly displayed the fake PMO identity card to security guards at the mall. A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s likely visit to Jio World Plaza in Mumbai’s BKC, police arrested Parikh and his private security guard, an ex-Army personnel, for allegedly trying to enter the premises while claiming to be associated with the PMO. A third person, Prathmesh Bagul, who was accompanying them, managed to flee and remains wanted.