Fake Casting Call Using Suresh Gopi's Name Lands Cyber Police Case in Kerala

Kerala Police have launched a cyber investigation after a fake casting call allegedly misusing the name and photograph of Union Minister and actor Suresh Gopi surfaced on social media, raising concerns over the growing misuse of celebrity identities in online scams.

The Thrissur Cyber Police registered a case on July 14 following a complaint filed by Gopi, who alerted authorities after discovering that a fraudulent audition announcement was being widely circulated across digital platforms.

According to investigators, Gopi had recently shared a genuine casting call related to an upcoming film associated with noted producer Listin Stephen through his official social media accounts. However, before the authentic announcement gained traction, an unidentified individual allegedly circulated a fabricated version carrying Gopi's photograph and falsely claiming to represent the actor-politician.

The fake advertisement invited aspiring male and female actors to submit their photographs to a mobile phone number for film auditions. It further claimed that interviews would take place on July 15 and 16 , creating an appearance of legitimacy and encouraging public participation.

Officials said the misleading post had the potential to deceive aspiring performers and collect personal information under false pretences. Upon learning about the circulation of the fraudulent content, Gopi promptly approached the police and sought legal action.

Based on the complaint, police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act . Investigators have begun tracing the mobile phone number mentioned in the fake casting call and are working to identify the person responsible.

Police said the accused will be questioned once identified, while digital evidence linked to the online post is also being examined. Authorities have urged citizens to verify the authenticity of casting calls and recruitment advertisements before sharing personal details or responding online, stressing that official announcements should always be confirmed through verified sources. The investigation remains underway as cyber officials work to uncover the motive behind the deceptive campaign.