Woman Who Blocked Police Van During Mumbai Protest Alleges Deepfake Videos, Sexualised Trolling

Model Rhiya Ahir, who became one of the most recognisable faces of the recent NEET paper leak protests in Mumbai after standing in front of a police van carrying detained demonstrators, has filed a complaint with the Maharashtra Cyber Cell alleging a coordinated online hate campaign following the viral incident.

The 27-year-old model was photographed blocking a police van during the rain-soaked protest at Shivaji Park in Dadar on July 22. The image of Ahir, dressed in a grey hoodie and standing firmly before the vehicle, quickly became one of the defining visuals of the protest.

In her complaint, Ahir alleged she has been targeted with AI-generated deepfake videos, morphed photographs, manipulated social media posts, misogynistic abuse, criminal intimidation and sustained online trolling after her protest photo went viral. She claimed old photographs from her modelling career were digitally edited and circulated with false and sexually suggestive captions in an attempt to slut shame her, while fabricated videos falsely portrayed her making statements she never made. She also alleged that posts containing obscene remarks, character assassination and derogatory comments about her personal life and family were widely shared across social media platforms.

According to Ahir, many users branded her an " attention seeker ", accused her of staging the protest " for publicity ", questioned her character and profession, and posted abusive comments targeting her appearance and morality. She alleged the campaign went far beyond criticism of her participation in the protest and was a coordinated attempt to malign her reputation and intimidate her. She submitted screenshots, URLs and other digital evidence, claiming multiple social media accounts systematically spread defamatory content against her and her family.

Following the complaint, Ahir said police officials contacted her and she is expected to meet Maharashtra Cyber Cell authorities as the investigation progresses.

Speaking about the protest, Ahir said she had joined the demonstration over the alleged NEET paper leak but did not know any of the people detained inside the police vehicle. She decided to intervene after seeing several protesters, including women, packed inside the van.

"I saw people stuffed inside the van. I tried to pull a woman out, but the police stopped me. So I stood in front of the vehicle and demanded that they be released," she said.

Ahir also alleged the van driver repeatedly revved the engine in an attempt to intimidate her, but she refused to move and held her ground as more protesters gathered in support. She later said she never expected to become one of the faces of the protest movement, describing her actions as a spontaneous response to seeing fellow demonstrators being taken away by police.