#FactCheck:Old Video of Swatantra Bhardwaj Shared as Footage Recorded After His Jail Release
Executive Summary
A video of Swatantra Bhardwaj is being shared on social media. Another man can also be seen with Bhardwaj in the video. Swatantra Bhardwaj came into the spotlight following an alleged assault involving the father of a protester during a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party at Jantar Mantar. Social media posts claim that the video was recorded immediately after his release from jail and shows him openly threatening people. CyberPeace Research Wing’s Research found the viral claim to be false. Our Research revealed that the video being shared on social media is old. Swatantra Bhardwaj was released from jail on September 17, while our Research found that the video has been available online since June. Therefore, the claim that the video was recorded immediately after Bhardwaj’s release from jail is misleading.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the viral video on September 17, 2026, with the caption: “The Indian judicial system has failed once again... Swatantra Bhardwaj has started again immediately after coming out, even though the court has imposed a condition that he will not make any statements to the media. But listen to what he is saying.” The post link, archive link, and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1349048917301713
Fact Check
To verify the date of Swatantra Bhardwaj’s release from jail, we searched Google using relevant keywords. During the search, we found a report published by Aaj Tak on September 18, 2026. According to the report, social media influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who came into the spotlight following an alleged assault during a protest at Jantar Mantar, was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on September 17, 2026, after being granted bail by the court and completing the necessary legal formalities. Soon after walking out of the main gate of the jail, he ran towards a taxi and left without speaking to the media personnel present there. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we conducted a reverse image search of the keyframes from the video. During the search, we found the same video on a YouTube channel, where it was published on September 7, 2026. Meanwhile, the report mentioned above clearly states that Swatantra Bhardwaj was released from Delhi’s Tihar Jail on September 17, 2026. The report link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3V0pwJbpwg
At the end of our Research, we found another version of the same video, which was uploaded by a person identified as Vaibhav Kumar on June 26, 2026. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaBs7Q-T8xc/
Conclusion
Our Research found that the video being shared on social media is old. Swatantra Bhardwaj was released from jail on September 17, while our Research found that the video had already been available online since June. Therefore, the claim that the video was recorded immediately after Bhardwaj’s release from jail is misleading.
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Incident Overview
Earlier this week, the Chinese media reported that several ‘Macau’ government websites were hacked, indicating a significant targeted cyberattack. The hacked website includes those of the office of the Secretary for Security, the public security police, the fire services department and the Security Forces Services Bureau. It was reported that the police have launched a criminal investigation to trace the source of the crime. Furthermore, officials believe the source of the intrusion was likely from overseas, and authorities have carried out an emergency response in conjunction with telecommunication operators to restore affected services on a priority basis. The densely populated Macau is a special administrative region on the south coast of China and the cyber attacks on the essential government website of China raise a serious concern.
Response and Mitigation
Macau's authorities carried out an emergency response in collaboration with telecommunication operators to restore regular services as a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS) was reported to be carried out on certain government websites which resulted in the inactivity of those several websites. The country's security forces instructed Macau Telecom to investigate the incident and submit a report and improvement plan to prevent similar attacks in the future.
Context and Implications
The hack on the government websites of Macau is not a single incident; rather, it is a part of an increasing pattern of cyberattacks on the region's vital infrastructure. According to a recent report, the frequency of cybercrimes has tripled since 2020, targeting Macau's critical infrastructure, which is worrying. This pattern draws attention to the growing threats that public sector organisations and governments throughout the world confront.
Final Words
In light of such sophisticated attacks targeting vital infrastructure or critical government operations, it is imperative that the country ensure powerful cybersecurity strategies and measures. Implementing robust cybersecurity measures, developing incident response planning, regular security checks, employee training on cyber hygiene, public awareness and capacity building and international collaboration to jointly develop and plan counteract strategies is a crucial step to build safeguards against such cyber threats.
The incident of a cyberattack on the government websites of Macau serves stark reminder of the evolving threats and cybersecurity challenges, it is a serious concern when critical government websites are compromised by malicious actors. It highlights the necessity for continuous vigilance and cybersecurity measures in place to counter such cyber attacks. A comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, the government can enhance their overall cybersecurity posture, establish resilience against such threats in future, and save the functionality of essential government websites.
References:
- https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/websites-of-office-of-the-secretary-for-security-targeted-in-a-cyber-attack.html
- https://www.reuters.com/world/china/several-macau-government-websites-hacked-says-chinese-state-media-2024-07-11/
- https://4imag.com/several-macau-government-websites-hacked-says-chinese-state-media/
- https://www.aol.com/news/several-macau-government-websites-hacked-001435511.htmlhttps://therecord.media/macau-government-websites-hit-with-cyberattack
- https://macaonews.org/news/city/macau-cyberattacks-cyber-security-attacks-macao/
Executive Summary
A graphic featuring Union Home Minister Amit Shah is being widely shared on social media, claiming that he has announced a complete ban on alcohol in West Bengal from September 30. The post further suggests that the state will move towards becoming a dry state. Notably, this claim surfaced soon after the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections. CyberPeace Research Wing research has found the viral claim to be false. Our research confirms that Home Minister Amit Shah has not made any such announcement.
Claim:
On Instagram, a user shared a viral graphic on May 8, 2026, alleging that Amit Shah announced a complete ban on alcohol in West Bengal starting September 30. The post link and archived version are provided below:
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYDy13zINV5/
- https://archive.ph/mYpZS
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we conducted a keyword-based search on Google. However, we did not find any credible media reports supporting the viral claim. Since the graphic carried the logo of India Today, we also checked the official website, YouTube channel, and social media handles of India Today. However, no matching report or graphic was found.
In the final step, we reviewed the official X account of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Even there, no statement or report confirming the viral claim was found. The relevant link is provided below:
- https://x.com/HMOIndia
Conclusion:
Our research confirms that Home Minister Amit Shah has made no such announcement regarding a complete alcohol ban in West Bengal.
Executive Summary:
Several videos claiming to show bizarre, mutated animals with features such as seal's body and cow's head have gone viral on social media. Upon thorough investigation, these claims were debunked and found to be false. No credible source of such creatures was found and closer examination revealed anomalies typical of AI-generated content, such as unnatural leg movements, unnatural head movements and joined shoes of spectators. AI material detectors confirmed the artificial nature of these videos. Further, digital creators were found posting similar fabricated videos. Thus, these viral videos are conclusively identified as AI-generated and not real depictions of mutated animals.
Claims:
Viral videos show sea creatures with the head of a cow and the head of a Tiger.
Fact Check:
On receiving several videos of bizarre mutated animals, we searched for credible sources that have been covered in the news but found none. We then thoroughly watched the video and found certain anomalies that are generally seen in AI manipulated images.
Taking a cue from this, we checked all the videos in the AI video detection tool named TrueMedia, The detection tool found the audio of the video to be AI-generated. We divided the video into keyframes, the detection found the depicting image to be AI-generated.
In the same way, we investigated the second video. We analyzed the video and then divided the video into keyframes and analyzed it with an AI-Detection tool named True Media.
It was found to be suspicious and so we analyzed the frame of the video.
The detection tool found it to be AI-generated, so we are certain with the fact that the video is AI manipulated. We analyzed the final third video and found it to be suspicious by the detection tool.
The detection tool found the frame of the video to be A.I. manipulated from which it is certain that the video is A.I. manipulated. Hence, the claim made in all the 3 videos is misleading and fake.
Conclusion:
The viral videos claiming to show mutated animals with features like seal's body and cow's head are AI-generated and not real. A thorough investigation by the CyberPeace Research Team found multiple anomalies in AI-generated content and AI-content detectors confirmed the manipulation of A.I. fabrication. Therefore, the claims made in these videos are false.
- Claim: Viral videos show sea creatures with the head of a cow, the head of a Tiger, head of a bull.
- Claimed on: YouTube
- Fact Check: Fake & Misleading
