Maharashtra Police Launch Probe On Payal Gaming’s 19-Minute Video

YouTuber Payal Dhare, better known online as Payal Gaming, recently became the subject of online rumours after an intimate video began circulating on social media platforms. Soon after the clip appeared, some users on X (formerly Twitter) started naming her as the person in the video even though there was no confirmation to support the claim.

As the video spread, many of Payal’s followers questioned whether it was real. Many users observed irregularities in the video said it appeared to be edited with some suggesting that it could be digitally manipulated or created using artificial intelligence (AI).

Amid the speculation, Payal issued a public statement on Instagram on Wednesday, December 17. She said the woman seen in the clip was not her and stressed that the content had no link to her personal life, identity or decisions. She also appealed to both viewers and media outlets to “refrain from sharing, reproducing, or speculating about this material in any form.”

Calling the situation emotionally difficult, Payal explained how her name and image were being wrongly associated with the viral content. “Over the past few days, content has been circulated online that falsely associates my name and image with a video currently being shared on digital platforms. I want to state this clearly and without ambiguity: the individual depicted in that video is not me, and it has no connection to my life, my choices, or my identity,” she said.

“This is not harmless content; it is deeply hurtful and dehumanizing,” Payal wrote.

She further confirmed that legal action had already been initiated. “Appropriate legal steps are being taken to address the misuse of my name and likeness, and to ensure accountability in accordance with the law,” Payal added.

The Maharashtra Cyber Police has also confirmed that the video was fake. Officials said the clip was examined using technical tools available with the state cyber department and was found to be digitally altered.

An official certificate issued by the Office of the Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra State Cyber Department, stated that the video had been tampered with and was generated using AI. “The video was analysed using the technology available with the Maharashtra State Cyber Department. It is hereby certified that the aforesaid video has been tampered with and modified. The analysis confirms that the video is a deepfake created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology,” the certificate said.

Based on Payal Dhare’s complaint, a criminal case has been registered by the Maharashtra Cyber Police. Payal later acknowledged the action taken by authorities and thanked officials through an Instagram post.

Payal Gaming, whose real name is Payal Dhare, is one of India’s leading gaming creators. She has built a strong digital presence with over 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube and around 4.2 million followers on Instagram.

Her reach is not limited to gaming alone. Payal has also interacted with several film personalities and her social media accounts feature pictures with celebrities such as Farah Khan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya.