Dibrugarh Police Arrest Ex-Boyfriend for Circulating Morphed Photos of Archita Phukan 

Dibrugarh, July 12, 2025

In a major cybercrime breakthrough, Dibrugarh Police have arrested Pratim Bora, the former boyfriend of local influencer Archita Phukan, for allegedly creating and distributing digitally altered explicit images of her on social media platforms. The images, which went viral, falsely portrayed Phukan as being involved in pornographic content and residing in the United States.

Rumour Debunked

Investigators have officially confirmed that the viral photos were fabricated using advanced digital editing tools. Contrary to online speculation, Archita Phukan has no links to any adult content and is not based in the United States, as earlier claimed in several viral posts.

The explicit images, widely circulated on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Telegram, were created by superimposing Archita’s face onto unrelated bodies using AI-driven face-swap and photo-editing software. The motive, police say, was revenge, following a personal dispute between Phukan and Bora.

How the Case Unfolded

The controversy gained traction in late June when multiple graphic images began circulating online, misleadingly identifying Archita as part of an international adult site. Following the viral spread, Phukan lodged an FIR at Dibrugarh Police Station on July 9, prompting a full-scale cybercrime investigation.

Police tracked the source of the uploads to Bora’s personal laptop and mobile device, identifying him as the primary suspect. Further analysis revealed RAW image files, editing software logs, and metadata that matched the timestamps of the posts shared via dummy social media accounts.

Legal Action Taken

The accused, Pratim Bora, has been booked under several serious provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act, including:

Law	Offence	Penalty
IPC Section 499	Criminal Defamation	Up to 2 years or fine
IPC Section 354D	Online Stalking	Up to 3 years (first-time offence)
IT Act Section 66E	Violation of Privacy	Up to 3 years and ₹2 lakh fine
IT Act Section 67A	Circulation of Sexually Explicit Content	Up to 7 years and ₹10 lakh fine

Sentencing will be subject to court proceedings.

Official Statement from Police

“This case highlights the dangers of digital manipulation and revenge pornography. We are committed to ensuring that the accused is brought to justice and that such crimes are not repeated,”
— Senior Officer, Dibrugarh Cyber Crime Cell
(Source: India Today NE)

Archita Phukan Speaks Out

Archita Phukan has expressed relief over the police action and appealed to the public not to share or believe unverified and defamatory content. She has also requested privacy while the legal process continues.

“I’m grateful to the authorities for acting swiftly. It’s been an extremely distressing time, but I hope justice will be served,”
— Archita Phukan
(Source: Pratidin Time)

Broader Concerns Raised

Cybersecurity experts and digital rights activists say the incident raises serious concerns about the increasing misuse of AI-based tools and deepfake technology:

1. Urgent need for AI literacy among users to recognize manipulated content.

2. Faster content moderation mechanisms on social media platforms to tackle such abuse.

3. Policy reforms to support victims and impose stricter penalties on perpetrators.

Editorial Note

This case serves as a stark reminder of how easily digital tools can be weaponized to harm someone’s reputation. It is imperative that citizens exercise caution, verify the authenticity of content before sharing, and respect privacy—especially in sensitive cases involving women.