#FactCheck-AI-generated image falsely shows Yusuf Pathan joining BJP with JP Nadda
Executive Summary
Amid political developments following the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, a photo is being widely circulated on social media claiming that former cricketer and Baharampur MP Yusuf Pathan has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The viral image shows Pathan wearing a BJP scarf and standing alongside Union Health Minister JP Nadda. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be false. The image in circulation is AI-generated and does not depict any real event.
Claim:
A Facebook user ‘Mohd Anwar Dhadoli Khurd’ shared the viral image on June 16, 2026, claiming that Yusuf Pathan has joined the BJP. The post has since been widely shared across platforms.
Post link: https://www.facebook.com/mohd.anwar.dhadoli.khurd/posts/pfbid02WAo4uXhhM1qEVTMbxTjKpTHkoeAbfEztwkX6tWLWpN8WBzNavgtJgKV8JoBGULSul
Archive link: https://perma.cc/4A3H-YTPL
Fact Check:
A reverse image search of the viral photo did not yield any credible news reports or authentic sources linking the image to any such political development. No related information was found on Yusuf Pathan’s official social media accounts either, raising suspicion about the authenticity of the image. The image was then analysed using AI detection tools. Sightengine reported a 99% probability of the image being AI-generated.
Additionally, analysis using “Undetectable.ai” also indicated a high likelihood of AI manipulation.
Conclusion:
The research confirms that the viral image claiming Yusuf Pathan’s entry into the BJP is AI-generated and does not reflect any real-world event.
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Executive Summary
A video of senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is widely circulating on social media, allegedly showing him praising Pakistan’s diplomatic stance over the ICC T20 World Cup issue. Many users are sharing the clip believing it to be genuine. However, research by the CyberPeace found the claim to be false. The viral video of Tharoor is a deepfake, and the Congress leader himself has described it as fabricated and fake.
Claim
A Facebook page named “Vok Sports” shared the video on February 11, 2026, claiming that Tharoor praised Pakistan. In the viral clip, he is purportedly heard saying in English that Pakistan’s diplomatic handling of the matter was “brilliant” and that it had outmanoeuvred the Indian cricket board, adding that good diplomacy could make a weak nation appear powerful.
The video was widely shared by social media users as authentic. (Archive links and post details provided.)
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we first scanned Tharoor’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle. We found a post dated February 12 in which he responded to a Pakistani journalist who had shared the video. Tharoor stated that the clip was AI-generated “fake news,” adding that neither the language nor the voice in the video was his.
A reverse image search using Google Lens led the Desk to a video uploaded on February 10, 2026, by India Today on its official YouTube channel. The visuals in this original video exactly matched those seen in the viral clip showing Tharoor speaking to the media. However, upon analysing the original footage, we found that Tharoor was speaking in Hindi about the controversy surrounding the T20 World Cup. He stated that politics should not be mixed with cricket or sports and did not praise Pakistan or the Pakistan Cricket Board at any point. This indicates that the audio in the viral clip had been manipulated and replaced. In the original video, Tharoor said that politicians should conduct politics separately, diplomats should handle diplomacy, and cricket players should focus on the game, expressing hope that cricket would move forward with the match.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkA1mLlAT8Q&t=3s
To further verify the authenticity of the video, several AI detection tools were used. Analysis through Aurigin.ai suggested a 78 percent probability that the audio in the viral clip was AI-generated.
Conclusion
The CyberPeace confirmed that the viral video is a deepfake. Tharoor did not praise Pakistan’s diplomatic stance during the T20 World Cup controversy, and the circulating clip has been digitally manipulated.
Introduction
Cybercrime in India is developing at a rapid rate in terms of depth and volume, with culprits leveraging technology, anonymity, and social engineering to exploit unsuspecting victims. In a high-profile instance of coordinated police action, the Delhi Police Crime Branch recently cracked a large-scale pan-India cybercrime syndicate with its arms stretching across Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The syndicate used to be involved in a range of cybercrimes, from sextortion and online fraud to fake call centres and cloning of bank accounts. With over ₹5 crore of illicit financial transactions revealed, the operation highlights the critical role of proactive cyber policing, data security and public awareness in India's war against digital crime.
A Multi-State Operation: Crime Network across States
On May 24, 2025, on receiving a tip-off, the Delhi Police conducted a specific raid in New Ashok Nagar to catch a suspect consignment said to be used for cybercrime. This resulted in a multi-layered investigation that revealed a large crime syndicate. Police recovered 28 mobile phones, 30 SIM cards, 15 debit cards, 8 cheque books, and two laptops, equipment said to have been used in crimes ranging from sextortion to fake loan scams.
Three of the initial arrests revealed the use of fake kits like pre-activated SIMs and counterfeit documents to create phoney digital identities and bank accounts. They were being used to bypass KYC norms and make untraceable transactions, illustrating how cyber thieves exploit digital identity as well as financial authentication loopholes in the system.
Fake Call Centre Falsely Claiming to be a Lender
Tracing the leads, the investigation then led the police to Mundka, a semi-residential and industrial area in Delhi, where a fake call centre in the name of a loan assistance service was operating. Suspects were allegedly operating the business. With deceptive scripts, their telemarketing staff lured victims with the offer of instant personal loans. When a prospective victim replied favorably and was willing to go further, he was asked to send identification documents and was then forced to pay a "processing fee." Once the payment was made, the accused would cut off contact immediately, leaving the victims shortchanged.
During the raid, seven individuals were apprehended, six of whom were trained tele-callers with a reasonable level of technical skill. In spite of possessing educational certificates and receiving a meagre pay of between ₹8,000 and ₹9,000 a month, these individuals had been enticed into the cybercrime network, demonstrating how educated youth are now more commonly being exploited or recruited by such scam networks in return for quick money.
Uncovering the Sextortion Racket
The most shocking disclosure was that of a sextortion racket being run from New Ashok Nagar, a residential area located in West Delhi, New Delhi. Suspects tricked victims with fraudulent Facebook profiles, contacted them on Messenger, and then changed to WhatsApp video calls. Pornographic videos were played on such calls while the reactions of the victim were secretly recorded. These were later utilised for extortion by threatening to share them with the whole world. The ability of such a group to blackmail and psychologically manipulate the victims indicates the psychological nature of cybercrime and the need for online safety education.
Impact and Significance: A Wake-Up Call for Law Enforcement and Public Awareness
This crackdown is uncovering some ominous trends that reflect the changing face of cybercrime in India. The syndicate's framework highlights the organised and multi-state nature of cybercrime, mostly operating through systemic loopholes. Misuse of social media sites and fintech apps is also rampant, and these are being leveraged for scams, sextortion, and monetary fraud. One of the most concerning trends is young people becoming more engaged in cybercrime, either out of economic necessity or enticed by easy cash. Most of these scams increasingly involve psychological manipulation, particularly in sextortion, where shame and fear are employed as tools. Digital identity fraud has also been facilitated through false documents and lenient Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, with fraudsters being able to evade verification processes.
These observations underscore the necessity of strong reporting channels. There also needs to be an urgent implementation of stringent verification standards in the telecom and banking industries, along with extensive community-level digital literacy initiatives to sensitise citizens to online threats and preventive measures.
CyberPeace Vision: Building a Safe Digital India
India needs a multi-level cyber security approach, comprising people awareness, AI-driven detection systems, and coordination of inter-state policing. Precedence needs to be given to:
- Capacity building of cyber police units.
- Real-time exchange of scam intelligence among law enforcement.
- Schools, colleges, and workplaces should be aware of digital hygiene.
- Rehabilitation of cyber-offenders, especially youth.
- Countering online misinformation and disinformation through fact-checking and public education campaigns
- Ensuring inclusivity in cyber safety policies so vulnerable populations, including rural users, senior citizens, and linguistic minorities, are not left behind
The breakdown of the syndicate is a major victory, but the absence of difficulty with which these networks function highlights the need for cybercrime prevention initiatives, not after the fact.
Conclusion
The Delhi Police bust of a pan-India cybercrime gang is evidence of the increasing reach and audacity of cyber crooks from one corner of India to another. From sextortion and social engineering to financial fraud and identity theft on the web, the bust demonstrates how deep and pervasive cybercrime gangs have become. It is also a reminder that anyone can get entangled and that education, awareness, and early reporting are our best defence. With India's online presence expanding day by day, our collective cyber awareness must keep pace. The fight against cybercrime will not be won only by arrests, but through a national effort to secure our digital spaces.
References
- https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-police-cyber-crime-syndicate-10047218/
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/delhi-police-bust-pan-india-cybercrime-syndicate/article69652694.ece#:~:text=The%20Delhi%20police%20have%20dismantled,and%20an%20orchestrated%20sextortion%20racket.
- https://cybercrime.gov.in/
- https://www.ncrb.gov.in/
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/save/online-scams-are-on-the-rise-learn-about-the-latest-tricks-fraudsters-are-using-to-identify-frauds-and-protect-yourself/articleshow/114162295.cms?from=mdr
Executive Summary
As West Bengal heads for vote counting on May 4, 2026, following the second phase of Assembly polling held on April 29, a video is being widely shared on social media. The clip shows security personnel baton-charging civilians, with users claiming it depicts force being used during the West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026. Research by CyberPeace Research Wing found that the viral claim is misleading. The video is actually from Bangladesh and is being falsely linked to the West Bengal elections to spread confusion.
Claim
A Facebook user named “Adv Mohd Salman” shared the clip on April 29, 2026, using Bengal-related hashtags and claiming that voters standing in line were beaten to influence the election outcome. The post alleged that free and fair voting rights were being suppressed.
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we closely examined the viral video. A vehicle visible in the footage had a registration number written in a non-Hindi script. Using Google Lens reverse image search, we found a matching image uploaded on Alamy on December 30, 2018. The image showed a military vehicle with the same script and registration style seen in the viral clip.
According to the description on the platform, the image was taken in Dhaka during Bangladesh’s national elections and showed Bangladeshi army personnel moving through a street near a polling station. This confirms that the viral footage is not related to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Conclusion
Our research confirms that the video showing security personnel baton-charging civilians is from Bangladesh, not West Bengal. It is being falsely shared as footage from the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections to mislead users.
