#FactCheck
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media claiming to show baggage handlers in India carelessly unloading passenger luggage from an aircraft cargo hold. The clip allegedly shows a handler ignoring standard procedures and throwing bags directly onto the tarmac instead of placing them on a motorized conveyor belt. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the video to be entirely fake. The clip has been generated using artificial intelligence (AI) and is being falsely shared as a real incident from India.
Claim
An X user, I.P. Singh (@IPSinghSp), shared the video on June 25, claiming it shows baggage handlers unloading luggage from an aircraft in India. The post criticized the alleged mishandling of passenger baggage and questioned aviation authorities over poor service standards.
The accompanying post read:
“When will the DGCA and the Civil Aviation Minister finally pay attention? Despite high airfares, this is the state of passengers’ luggage. The Ministry of Civil Aviation should learn from Japan and China how luggage should be handled.” https://x.com/IPSinghSp/status/2070164107551273109?s=20 , https://archive.ph/heiHA
Fact Check
A detailed analysis of the footage revealed multiple visual inconsistencies suggesting AI generation. Notably, even after the baggage handler seen initially tossing the luggage exits via the conveyor belt, bags continue to emerge from the cargo hold and fall onto the tarmac on their own. This physically impossible sequence strongly indicates digital manipulation. To verify these findings, the video was analyzed using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. The results indicated that a significant portion of the footage was generated using artificial intelligence.
Conclusion
Our research confirms that the viral video is entirely fake. It has been generated using AI and is being misrepresented as a real incident from India involving baggage handling at an airport.
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media showing an Indian cargo vessel engulfed in flames. It is being claimed that the ship was carrying chemical weapons to Israel and was hit by a drone near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, after which it caught fire. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The viral video does not show any such incident. Instead, it shows an Indian cargo vessel on fire, but in a completely different context unrelated to any drone strike or weapons shipment allegation.
Claim
The video circulating online is being shared with the claim that it shows an Indian cargo ship carrying chemical weapons to Israel, which was struck by a drone near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman and subsequently caught fire. https://x.com/ThokaReturns/status/2070224570792251728 , https://x.com/ThokaReturns/status/2070224570792251728
FactCheck
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to a Times of India post dated July 19, 2024, on X (formerly Twitter), which contained the same visuals. The report stated that a major fire broke out on a container cargo vessel approximately 102 nautical miles southwest of Goa, following which the Indian Coast Guard launched firefighting operations. A comparison between the news footage and the viral video confirmed that both refer to the same incident. https://x.com/timesofindia/status/1814352708473856175
We also found an India Today report on the incident, which stated that the vessel was travelling from Mundra to Colombo, Sri Lanka, when the fire broke out. The Indian Coast Guard immediately diverted one of its ships to respond to the distress call. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/fire-breaks-out-container-cargo-merchant-vessel-off-goa-coast-rescue-ops-2569320-2024-07-19
Conclusion
Our research confirms that an old and unrelated video has been shared on social media as visuals of an Indian cargo vessel allegedly hit by a drone off the coast of Oman
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media showing a purported CRPF trooper accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of corruption. In the video, the individual is also seen urging people to vote the BJP government out of power. CyberPeace Research Wing research found that the video was created using artificial intelligence (AI). There is no evidence that any CRPF personnel made such statements.
Claim
An Instagram user shared the viral video, claiming that a CRPF trooper was criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over corruption allegations. The post link, archived link, and screenshot are provided below. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DZ_dbj_SNTf/ , https://www.awesomescreenshot.com/video/53998219?key=46c661b505ba61d19e7d9be97a17c273
FactCheck
A closer examination of the video revealed several inconsistencies. The name tag on the uniform displayed only “CRPF,” which does not match the standard naming format used on official CRPF uniforms. Additionally, several faces visible in the background appeared blurred and distorted, which are common indicators of AI-generated content. We also noticed a visible Grok watermark in the bottom-right corner of the viral clip, suggesting that the video may have been generated or modified using artificial intelligence. Further analysis was conducted using Hive Moderation’s AI detection tool, which indicated the presence of AI-generated or deepfake elements in the video.
To further verify the authenticity of the clip, we analyzed it using Deepfake-O-Meter. The tool indicated a probability of more than 95 percent that the video was generated using artificial intelligence.
Conclusion
The viral video purportedly showing a CRPF trooper criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP government is AI-generated. Multiple indicators, AI detection tools, and the clarification issued by the government’s PIB Fact Check confirm that the video is not authentic.
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media after a fire incident in Aliganj, Lucknow. The approximately 15-second clip shows a building engulfed in flames, where a woman is seen hanging her small child outside a window while desperately seeking help. The video is being circulated as if it shows the recent Lucknow fire incident. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The viral video is not related to the Lucknow fire incident. In fact, the clip is around 16 years old and originates from a completely different incident in the United States. It is being falsely shared on social media with a misleading context.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the viral video on June 22, 2026, claiming: “A mother’s love is so powerful that even in front of death, she goes to any extent to save her child.” The post link, archived link, and screenshots are provided below.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1168968548755052
Factcheck
To verify the claim, we conducted a reverse image search of the video keyframes using Google Lens. During the research, we found the same visuals published in a HuffPost report dated 2010. According to the report, the incident shows a fire in an apartment in the Bronx, New York, USA. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/photo-captures-baby-dangl_n_463780
Further research led us to another report published by Gothamist in 2010, which also confirmed that the footage is related to a fire incident in the Bronx apartment building in New York. https://gothamist.com/news/baby-held-out-window-in-bronx-fire-is-healthy-adorable
According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, a fire incident at a coaching center in Aliganj, Lucknow resulted in the death of around 15 people. The government suspended four officials and police arrested four accused in connection with the incident. However, it was confirmed that the actual footage from the Lucknow coaching center fire is different from the viral video and has no relation to it. https://www.bhaskar.com/local/uttar-pradesh/lucknow/news/lucknow-coaching-center-fire-children-rescue-effort-138258629.html
Conclusion:
Our research confirms that the viral video is not related to the Lucknow fire incident. The footage is actually from a 16-year-old fire incident in the Bronx, New York, USA, and is being falsely shared with a misleading context on social media.
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media, claiming it shows a terrifying scene from a recent earthquake in Venezuela. The 9-second clip shows a multi-storey building collapsing like a house of cards, while people nearby are seen running in panic as chaos unfolds. The video is being widely circulated by users as evidence of massive destruction caused by the alleged earthquake in Venezuela. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The viral video has no connection to any recent earthquake in Venezuela. In fact, the footage is from a completely different event that took place nearly three years ago in Turkey. It is being falsely shared with a wrong context on social media.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the viral video with the caption: “The most dangerous earthquake in 126 years! At least 10,000 deaths in Venezuela earthquake, shocking claim by USGS. Reports say massive destruction has occurred, Caracas airport has also been destroyed. Statement by Yogi Adityanath after Bharat Tiwari’s encounter.” The post link, archived link, and screenshots are provided below.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2438255879794217/posts/4830038697282578/
FactCheck
To verify the claim, we performed a reverse image search of the video keyframes using Google Lens. During the search, we found the same video on WION’s Facebook page, where it was published on February 6, 2023. The original post link and screenshots are provided below. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=917786002738401
The original caption of the video clearly states that it shows a building collapse in Sanliurfa, Turkey, occurring hours after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the country. Based on clues from the Facebook post, we further searched using relevant keywords and found a report published by The Guardian on February 6, 2023, which also included the viral footage. https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/feb/06/building-collapses-earthquake-aftershock-turkey-video
The report confirms that the video is from the aftermath of the devastating 2023 Turkey earthquake in Sanliurfa, not Venezuela.
Conclusion:
Our research confirms that the viral video has no connection to any recent earthquake in Venezuela. The footage is actually from the 2023 Turkey earthquake and is being falsely shared with a misleading context on social media.
Executive Summary
A video of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is being widely circulated on social media with the claim that he supported the Bihar police and justified the encounter of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari in Bhojpur district’s Bilouti village on June 17, 2026. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The viral video is not related to the Bihar encounter case. It is an old video from February 2026, in which the Chief Minister was speaking in the context of law and order and police action in Uttar Pradesh.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the video claiming it shows CM Yogi Adityanath’s reaction supporting the Bihar encounter of Bharat Tiwari. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1712174420025092 ,https://archive.ph/wip/yUsou
Fact Check:
A keyword search led to the same video being found on the ‘ET Now Swadesh’ YouTube channel in the form of a short video, uploaded on February 4, 2026, indicating that it predates the Bihar incident. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj7ySFsnkqk
Further verification led to a Dainik Jagran report published on February 3, 2026, which carried visuals from the same statement. The report confirmed that the remarks were made in the context of Uttar Pradesh’s law and order situation and police response. https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/lucknow-city-cm-yogi-on-up-crime-zero-tolerance-and-police-action-justified-40129630.html
The report quoted CM Yogi Adityanath saying that if police do not act, criminals would dominate the situation, and that police are empowered to respond in the language criminals understand. He also emphasized that police training is designed to ensure effective response to crime. An Aaj Tak report on the Bihar encounter case stated that 28-year-old Bharat Tiwari was killed in an encounter on June 17, 2026, in Bhojpur district. Following the incident, an FIR was registered against police personnel, and the victim’s mother demanded strict action and justice.
Conclusion:
The research confirms that the viral video of CM Yogi Adityanath is old and unrelated to the Bihar encounter case. It is from February 2026 and pertains to a law-and-order statement in Uttar Pradesh. The video is being falsely shared by linking it to the Bihar encounter incident.
Executive Summary
A video showing unusually large hailstones falling from the sky and damaging parked vehicles is being widely circulated on social media. Users are claiming that the video shows a severe hailstorm in Maharashtra amid the ongoing heatwave conditions in several parts of the country. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be false. The viral clip is not a real weather event and has been identified as AI-generated content.
Claim:
Social media users shared the video claiming it shows heavy hailstorm in Maharashtra, with captions suggesting widespread damage caused by extreme weather. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1741412617041722, https://archive.is/W2QxM
Fact Check:
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video did not yield any credible media reports linking the visuals to any real hailstorm in Maharashtra or elsewhere.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRsWLRowbao
Closer examination of the video revealed multiple inconsistencies, including unnatural movement and unrealistic size and behavior of hailstones, which are commonly associated with AI-generated visuals. The video was further analysed using AI detection tools. Hive Moderation flagged the content as likely AI-generated.
Similarly, Sightengine analysis indicated a 99% probability that the visuals were artificially created.
Conclusion:
The research confirms that the viral video claiming to show a massive hailstorm in Maharashtra is not real. The visuals are AI-generated and do not depict any actual weather event.
Executive Summary
A video showing a body lying on the ground is being widely circulated on social media with the claim that it shows a Bangladeshi infiltrator who was killed by the Border Security Force (BSF) during an infiltration attempt along the Tripura border. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. While reports confirm that in June 2026 a Bangladeshi national was killed in BSF firing in Tripura’s Unakoti district, the viral video is unrelated to that incident.
Claim:
A Facebook reel shared the video claiming that BSF recently shot dead a Bangladeshi infiltrator at the Tripura border, and that the visuals depict the same incident. Link: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1561542888951793
Fact Check:
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led to reports published by Bhaskar English, which carried the same visuals. The reports identified the deceased as Haris Nazir Dar, a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, who was killed during Operation Akhal on 2 August 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir. https://www.bhaskarenglish.in/national/news/2-soldiers-martyred-in-jks-kulgam-3-terrorists-killed-135638183.html
Further verification also found similar coverage on WION, confirming the same context of the incident. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhk-7QjPKK8
Operation Akhal was a major joint counter-terrorism operation conducted in August 2025 in the Akhal forests of Kulgam district, South Kashmir, by the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and the Special Operations Group (SOG). https://newsonair.gov.in/kulgam-encounter-joint-operation-continues-in-akhal-forests-three-terrorists-killed/
Conclusion:
The research confirms that the viral video claiming to show a Bangladeshi infiltrator killed by the BSF at the Tripura border is misleading. The footage is from an August 2025 counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir and shows Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Haris Nazir Dar killed during Operation Akhal.
Executive Summary
A social media post card featuring a photo of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, carrying the logo of Navbharat Times, is being widely circulated online. The post claims that Rubio made a remark criticizing the Indian government, allegedly stating that “those in power through EVMs should tell us what to do and what not to do.” CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be false. There is no evidence of Marco Rubio making any such statement, and the viral post card is fabricated.
Claim:
A post shared by SP leader IP Singh alleged that the US Secretary made comments questioning the legitimacy of the Indian government and EVM-based elections, further linking it to broader political criticism of EVMs.
Post link: https://x.com/IPSinghSp/status/2066740933396492706?s=20, https://archive.ph/submit/?url
Fact Check:
A keyword search of the alleged statement revealed no credible reports or official records of Marco Rubio making any such remark. Additionally, a review of Navbharat Times’ official social media handles did not show any such post card being published, indicating that the viral graphic is not authentic. Further examination of recent statements by Marco Rubio showed no reference to EVMs or the Indian electoral system. Instead, a Navbharat Times report dated June 14 covered a different issue related to tensions in the Hormuz Strait, where Rubio commented on the killing of Indian sailors during a maritime incident and emphasized compliance with US directives for commercial vessels. https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/world/america/marco-rubio-remarks-on-killing-of-indian-sailors-in-hormuz-strait-insult-of-india-says
Conclusion:
The research confirms that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not make any statement regarding EVMs or the Indian government. The viral post card is fake and misleading.
Executive Summary
A set of two images is being widely circulated on social media claiming that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently raided a church in Kerala and seized ₹7000 crore in black money. The viral post also alleges that the media deliberately suppressed the news. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The visuals are not recent and are linked to an Income Tax Department action conducted in 2020 at the Believers Eastern Church in Kerala.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the viral post claiming that ₹7000 crore in black money was seized from a Kerala-based church run by a bishop named Yohannan, and alleged that mainstream media ignored the incident.
Post link: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2143680196569943 , https://archive.ph/submit/
Fact Check:
A keyword search related to the alleged raid on Believers Church in Kerala led to several news reports published in November 2020. A report published in The Hindu on November 6, 2020 stated that a crackdown by the Income Tax Department on the Thiruvalla-based Believers Eastern Church had reportedly uncovered several irregularities. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/raids-bring-to-light-shady-deals-of-believers-church/article33041420.ece
Further verification from the official Income Tax Department website confirmed details of the search operation. According to the press release, approximately ₹6 crore in unexplained cash was recovered during the raid, including ₹3.85 crore from a place of worship in Delhi. https://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/Lists/Press%20Releases/Attachments/872/PressRelease_ITD_conducts_searches_in_Kerala_6_11_20.pdf
The release also noted that evidence suggested possible cash siphoning running into hundreds of crores of rupees.Additional media reports, including The Indian Express, stated that the total seizure amounted to around ₹14 crore. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala/i-t-raids-kerala-church-premises-on-charge-of-diverting-charity-funds-6984466/
Conclusion:
The research confirms that the viral claim is misleading. The incident is from 2020 and not recent. During the Income Tax Department raid on the Believers Eastern Church in Kerala, around ₹6 crore in cash was recovered, with total seizures reported up to ₹14 crore in media reports. There is no evidence of any ₹7000 crore seizure as claimed in the viral post.
Executive Summary
A video circulating on social media claims to show the Deputy Chief of Army Staff and former DGMO of the Indian Army, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, dancing with a young woman at a party. Users sharing the clip further allege that other junior military officers were also present at the event. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The viral video has no connection with the Indian Army, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, or any official military function. The person seen in the video is actually the father of content creator Akanksha Sehgal, who has featured him in multiple videos on her social media accounts.
Claim:
A Pakistani handle ‘Baba Thoka’ shared the video on X, alleging that Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai was seen dancing with young women at a party and that junior officers were also present.
- https://x.com/ThokaReturns/status/2068069535715147896?s=20
- https://archive.ph/H9EA0
Fact Check:
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led to the same clip being found on Instagram handle ‘akku_sehgal_’, posted on December 14, 2025. The video caption read: “POV – when your dad and your music taste match.”
Further examination of the content creator Akanksha Sehgal’s Instagram profile showed multiple videos featuring the same father-daughter duo, confirming that the man in the viral clip frequently appears in her content.
Conclusion:
The viral video claiming to show Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai dancing at a party is misleading. The individual seen in the video is not the senior Indian Army officer but the father of content creator Akanksha Sehgal.
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.
