#FactCheck! Viral Image Claiming Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma Visited Kedarnath Is AI-Generated
A photo featuring Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is being widely shared on social media. In the image, both players are seen holding a Shivling, with the Kedarnath temple visible in the background. Users sharing the image claim that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma recently visited Kedarnath.
However, CyberPeace Foundation’s investigation found the claim to be false. Our verification established that the viral image is not real but has been created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is being circulated with a misleading narrative.
The Claim
An Instagram user shared the viral image on December 22, 2025, with the caption stating that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in Kedarnath. The post has since been widely reshared by other users, who assumed the image to be authentic. Link, archive link, screenshot:
Fact Check
On closely examining the viral image, the Desk noticed visual inconsistencies suggesting that it may be AI-generated. To verify this, the image was scanned using the AI detection tool HIVE Moderation. According to the results, the image was found to be 99 per cent AI-generated.
Further verification was conducted using another AI detection tool, Sightengine. The analysis revealed that the image was 93 per cent likely to be AI-generated, reinforcing the findings from the previous tool.
Conclusion
CyberPeace Foundation’s research confirms that the viral image claiming Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma visited Kedarnath is fabricated. The image has been generated using AI technology and is being falsely shared on social media as a real photograph.
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Executive Summary:
In the end of January 2024, India sees an inauguration of Ram Mandir that is a historical event to which people came culturally and spiritually. All communities in the world acknowledge this point of life as a victory and also understand how it unites people. In the midst of this genuine joy over success, there has been a disconcerting increase in malpractices designed to exploit people’s enthusiasm. This report aims at providing awareness and guidelines on how one can avoid the fraud activities that could be circulating as a celebration of Ram Mandir inauguration. An example cited here is on scams that give fake free recharge to users making them connect with the Prime Minister of India and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
False Claim:
According to the message passed in WhatsApp, as a commemoration of the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in January 2024, free Rs.749 mobile recharge for three months would be offered to all Indians across India by both the PM and UP CM. The message prompts the recipients to click on the blue link provided and then recharge their numbers.
The Deceptive Scheme:
We have been informed of a circulating link (https://mahacashhback[.]in/#1705296887543) stating that it offers ₹719 recharge in honor of the Ram Mandir inauguration. It is worth mentioning that this link does not belong to any legitimate movement concerning the inauguration; public excitement and trust were used for personal gain.
Analyzing the Fraudulent Campaign:
- Exploiting Emotional Significance:Scammers are using the cultural and religious significance of Ram mandir inauguration as a cover to fool people into participating in its fraudulent scheme.
- Fake Recharge Offers:The broadcasted link is offering a recharge pretending that they celebrate it’s inauguration. Such offers should be handled with care and established through authorized avenues.
- Bogus Landing Pages and Comments:The landing page linked to the link typically shows images of Ram Mandir and fake comments succeeding in a make-believe appearance. Legitimate projects linked to major events rely on official and trustworthy communication mechanisms.
- Data Collection Attempts:However, users may be asked for personal details like mobile numbers under the false pretext of winning a fake recharge. Legitimate organizations practice secure protocols for data collection and communication.
- Sharing for Activation:After the data entry, users are prompted to share a link in other people’s posts; it is said that this will help “activate” recharge. This is a popular trick among swindlers to keep the fraud going on due to sending misleading messages.
What do we Analyze?
- It is important to note that at this particular point, there has not been any official declaration or a proper confirmation of such offers on any official channel.
- The campaign is hosted on a third party domain instead of any official Government Website, this raised suspicion. Also the domain has been registered in very recent times.
- Domain Name: mahacashhback[.]in
- Registry Domain ID: D1FCF1B5751244310A2FA723B62CE83E9-IN
- Registrar URL: https://publicdomainregistry[.]com/
- Registrar: Endurance Digital Domain Technology LLP
- Registrar IANA ID: 801217
- Updated Date: 2024-01-18T08:09:00Z
- Creation Date: 2023-05-27T12:01:17Z
- Registry Expiry Date: 2024-05-27T12:01:17Z
- Registrant Organization: Sachin Kumar
- Registrant State/Province: Bihar
- Name Server: ns2.suspended-domain[.]com
- Name Server: ns1.suspended-domain[.]com
CyberPeace Advisory and Best Practices:
- Verify Authenticity:Authenticate any offers or promotions linked to the Ram Mandir inauguration through official channels.
- Exercise Caution with Links:Do not engage with questionable URLs, in particular those without secure encryption (HTTPS). Official announcements and initiatives are disseminated through secure outlets.
- Protect Personal Information:Do not provide personal information and do not respond to unsolicited offers on nonofficial platforms. Genuine organizations employ safe and official routes for communication.
- Report Fraudulent Activity:When you see scams or fraudulent activities, immediately report them to authorities and platforms so that no one falls into their trap.
Conclusion:
In the coming days, let us be cautious from such cheating strategies which would be misutilized or create false situations. Individuals should stay informed, verify sources and defend their personal information to ensure a safer world wide web. Official and secure channels are used to communicate authentic initiatives linked with notable events. When an offer sounds too favorable or attractive, exercise due caution and check its genuineness to avoid being defrauded. Thus by undertaking the research we found this campaign to be fake.
A video of Bollywood actor Salman Khan is being widely circulated on social media, in which he can allegedly be heard saying that he will soon join Asaduddin Owaisi’s party, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). Along with the video, a purported image of Salman Khan with Asaduddin Owaisi is also being shared. Social media users are claiming that Salman Khan is set to join the AIMIM party.
CyberPeace research found the viral claim to be false. Our research revealed that Salman Khan has not made any such statement, and that both the viral video and the accompanying image are AI-generated.
Claim
Social media users claim that Salman Khan has announced his decision to join AIMIM.On 19 January 2026, a Facebook user shared the viral video with the caption, “What did Salman say about Owaisi?” In the video, Salman Khan can allegedly be heard saying that he is going to join Owaisi’s party. (The link to the post, its archived version, and screenshots are available.)
Fact Check:
To verify the claim, we first searched Google using relevant keywords. However, no credible or reliable media reports were found supporting the claim that Salman Khan is joining AIMIM.
In the next step of verification, we extracted key frames from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. This led us to a video posted on Salman Khan’s official Instagram account on 21 April 2023. In the original video, Salman Khan is seen talking about an event scheduled to take place in Dubai. A careful review of the full video confirmed that no statement related to AIMIM or Asaduddin Owaisi is made.
Further analysis of the viral clip revealed that Salman Khan’s voice sounds unnatural and robotic. To verify this, we scanned the video using AURGIN AI, an AI-generated content detection tool. According to the tool’s analysis, the viral video was generated using artificial intelligence.
Conclusion
Salman Khan has not announced that he is joining the AIMIM party. The viral video and the image circulating on social media are AI-generated and manipulated.
Executive Summary
A video is rapidly going viral on social media, with the claim that transgender women assaulted an Indian Army officer in Thailand. The post further claims that the officer had failed to pay the agreed amount, following which the incident took place. A research by CyberPeace’s research wing found that the viral video is fake. In fact, the video shows an incident that took place in Pattaya, Thailand, in December 2025. The 52-year-old Indian national, Raj Jasuja, was allegedly assaulted by a group of transgender women following a dispute over payment for sexual services. Therefore, the claim made in the post is false.
Claim:
A video shared on social media claims that transgender women assaulted an Indian Army general in Thailand.
https://x.com/navyhato/status/2094322001490116659
https://archive.ph/Scfgd
Fact Check:
To verify the claim, we conducted a Google search using relevant keywords but found no credible media reports confirming that Indian Army Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni was involved in the incident. During the subsequent research, we compared the viral screenshot with the original report published by The Times of India. The comparison revealed that the original headline, “Indian national Raj Jasuja thrashed by transwomen in Thailand after allegedly refusing to pay for escort service,” had been digitally altered to read, “Indian Army Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni thrashed by transwomen in Thailand after allegedly refusing to pay for escort service.” Further, both the viral screenshot and the original report display the same breadcrumb trail — “News / Indian National Raj Jasuja Thrashed By Transwomen In T…”. This provides further evidence that the headline in the viral screenshot was digitally manipulated.
After establishing the context of the viral claim, we conducted a Google search using relevant keywords. During the search, we found a report published on The Indian Express website on January 5, 2026, which featured the same visuals as those seen in the viral video. According to the report, a 52-year-old Indian tourist was allegedly assaulted by a group of transgender women in Pattaya, Thailand. The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over an unpaid fee for sexual services. The viral video, recorded on December 27, shows three transgender women allegedly assaulting the man with slippers. According to the report, the dispute escalated after the man allegedly refused to pay the amount demanded and attempted to leave the spot in a car. One of the transgender women reportedly accused him of refusing to make the payment. He was subsequently kicked and beaten before emergency responders intervened.
In the next step of our research, we found another report published on the India Today website on January 5, 2026. The report featured the same visuals as those seen in the viral video. According to the report, the incident took place on the morning of December 27, 2025, in the Walking Street area of Pattaya, Thailand.
Conclusion:
Our research found that the claim that Indian Army Lieutenant General Rajiv Kumar Sahni was assaulted in Thailand is false. The viral video actually shows an incident that took place in Pattaya, Thailand, in December 2025, in which 52-year-old Indian national Raj Jasuja was allegedly assaulted by a group of transgender women following a dispute over payment for sexual services. The viral post falsely links the incident to an Indian Army officer, thereby misrepresenting the identity of the person involved.
