#FactCheck - AI-Generated Image Falsely Shows Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Touching Rahul Gandhi’s Feet
Executive Summary
A viral image circulating on social media claims that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay touched the feet of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his swearing-in ceremony, while Congress and several other parties extended support to his government. The image is being widely shared with captions suggesting it captures a real political moment. However, CyberPeace Research Wing research has found the claim to be false. The image is AI-generated and does not depict any real event.
Claim
A Facebook user shared the viral image on May 10, 2026, claiming that TVK chief and actor Vijay had taken oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The post further claimed that during the ceremony, Vijay touched Rahul Gandhi’s feet to seek blessings, and the gesture was applauded by leaders present on stage. The post, along with archived links and screenshots, is being circulated as authentic evidence of the alleged incident.
- https://www.facebook.com/100057774695228/posts/1389222123013598/?rdid=FEzRYpVvSIieeUbj#
- https://archive.ph/kv4e1
Fact Check
A keyword-based search on Google did not return any credible news reports supporting the claim or confirming such an event. A closer visual examination of the image raised strong suspicions of AI manipulation, prompting verification through AI detection tools. When the image was analyzed using the SIGHTENGINE detection tool, the results indicated that the image is 99% likely to be AI-generated.
Further verification using another AI detection platform, HIVE MODERATION, also flagged the image as synthetic, showing an 81% probability of being AI-generated.
Conclusion
The research clearly shows that the viral image is not real. It has been generated using artificial intelligence and is being falsely shared as a real political event.
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Executive Summary
A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is being shared on social media with the claim that the Prime Minister touched the Iranian President’s feet and thanked him for providing gas, petrol and diesel to India at cheap prices. The post links the video to the 2026 BRICS Summit and claims that the two leaders had this conversation during the summit. CyberPeace Research Wing’s research found that the viral video is not authentic and is AI-generated.It is worth noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian held a bilateral meeting on September 11, 2026, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral relations, the situation in West Asia, the safety of maritime routes, and the need to ensure peace and stability in the region.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi thanked Iran for its regular and high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings. He also thanked President Pezeshkian for participating in the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum. However, the official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office makes no mention of Modi thanking the Iranian President for providing gas, petrol, diesel or oil at cheap prices.
Claim:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched the feet of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and thanked him for providing gas, oil, petrol and diesel to India at cheap prices.
https://x.com/1_Aurang/status/2099001779719749833
Fact Check:
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we conducted a Google search using relevant keywords. However, we did not find any credible media report supporting the claim.As part of our research, we found a press release published on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website on September 11, 2026. The release provides details of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. According to the press release, Prime Minister Modi thanked President Pezeshkian for Iran’s regular and high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings. He also thanked Pezeshkian for participating in the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum.The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and recent developments in West Asia. Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s position that all issues should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and stressed the need to ensure peace and stability in the region. However, the press release makes no mention of Prime Minister Modi thanking the Iranian President for providing gas, oil, petrol or diesel at cheap prices.
As part of our further research, we found the original photograph of the two leaders on the official X handle of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The photograph shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian shaking hands with each other.
https://x.com/PMOIndia/status/2098457126842851492?s=20
We then examined the video closely and noticed several visual inconsistencies. We subsequently scanned the video using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. According to the results, the viral video has a 98% probability of being AI-generated.
We also scanned the video using another AI detection tool, Sightengine. According to the results, the viral video has a 99% probability of being AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral claim is false. The video claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s feet and thanked him for providing cheap gas, oil, petrol and diesel to India is AI-generated and does not show a genuine interaction between the two leaders. Our research found several visual inconsistencies in the video. The findings were further supported by AI detection tools, with Hive Moderation identifying a 98% probability of AI generation, while Sightengine indicated a 99% probability. Furthermore, the official information released by the Prime Minister’s Office regarding Modi’s meeting with Pezeshkian contains no reference to the Prime Minister thanking Iran for providing fuel at cheap prices. Therefore, the video is being circulated on social media with a false and misleading claim.
Introduction
With the ever-growing technology where cyber-crimes are increasing, a new cyber-attack is on the rise, but it’s not in your inbox or your computer- it's targeting your phone, especially your smartphone. Cybercriminals are expanding their reach in India, with a new text-messaging fraud targeting individuals. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has warned against "smishing," or SMS phishing.
Understanding Smishing
Smishing is a combination of the terms "SMS" and "phishing." It entails sending false text messages that appear to be from reputable sources such as banks, government organizations, or well-known companies. These communications frequently generate a feeling of urgency in their readers, prompting them to click on harmful links, expose personal information, or conduct financial transactions.
When hackers "phish," they send out phony emails in the hopes of tricking the receiver into clicking on a dangerous link. Smishing is just the use of text messaging rather than email. In essence, these hackers are out to steal your personal information to commit fraud or other cybercrimes. This generally entails stealing money – usually your own, but occasionally also the money of your firm.
The cybercriminals typically use these tactics to lure victims and steal the information.
Malware- The cyber crooks send the smishing URL link that might tick you into downloading malicious software on your phone itself. This SMS malware may appear as legitimate software, deceiving you into putting in sensitive information and transmitting it to crooks.
Malicious website- The URL in the smishing message may direct you to a bogus website that seeks sensitive personal information. Cybercriminals employ custom-made rogue sites meant to seem like legitimate ones, making it simpler to steal your information.
Smishing text messages often appear to be from your bank, asking you to share personal sensitive information, ATM numbers, or account details. Mobile device cybercrime is increasing, as is mobile device usage. Aside from the fact that texting is the most prevalent usage of cell phones, a few additional aspects make this an especially pernicious security issue. Let's go over how smishing attacks operate.
Modus Operandi
The cyber crooks commit the fraud via SMS. As attackers assume an identity that might be of someone trusted, Smishing attackers can use social engineering techniques to sway a victim's decision-making. Three things are causing this deception:
- Trust- Cyber crooks target individuals, by posing to someone from a legitimate individual and organization, this naturally lowers a person’s defense against threats.
- Context- Using a circumstance that might be relevant to targets helps an attacker to create an effective disguise. The message feels personalized, which helps it overcome any assumption that it is spam.
- Emotion- The nature of the SMS is critical; it makes the victim think that is urgent and requires rapid action. Using these tactics, attackers craft communications that compel the receiver to act.
- Typically, attackers want the victim to click on a URL link within the text message, which takes them to a phishing tool that asks them for sensitive information. This phishing tool is frequently in the form of a website or app that also assumes a phony identity.
How does Smishing Spread?
As we have revealed earlier smishing attacks are delivered through both traditional texts. However, SMS phishing attacks primarily appear to be from known sources People are less careful while they are on their phones. Many people believe that their cell phones are more secure than their desktops. However, smartphone security has limits and cannot always guard against smishing directly.
Considering the fact phones are the target While Android smartphones dominate the market and are a perfect target for malware text messages, iOS devices are as vulnerable. Although Apple's iOS mobile technology has a high reputation for security, no mobile operating system can protect you from phishing-style assaults on its own. A false feeling of security, regardless of platform, might leave users especially exposed.
Kinds of smishing attacks
Some common types of smishing attacks that occurred are;
- COVID-19 Smishing: The Better Business Bureau observed an increase in reports of US government impersonators sending text messages requesting consumers to take an obligatory COVID-19 test via a connected website in April 2020. The concept of these smishing assaults may readily develop, as feeding on pandemic concerns is a successful technique of victimizing the public.
- Gift Smishing: Give away, shopping rewards, or any number of other free offers, this kind of smishing includes free services or products, from a reputable or other company. attackers plan in such a way that the offer is for a limited time or is an exclusive offer and the offers are so lucrative that one gets excited and falls into the trap.
CERT Guidelines
CERT-In shared some steps to avoid falling victim to smishing.
- Never click on any suspicious link in SMS/social media charts or posts.
- Use online resources to validate shortened URLs.
- Always check the link before clicking.
- Use updated antivirus and antimalware tools.
- If you receive any suspicious message pretending to be from a bank or institution, immediately contact the bank or institution.
- Use a separate email account for personal online transactions.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for emails and bank accounts.
- Keep your operating system and software updated with the latest patches.
Conclusion
Smishing uses fraudulent mobile text messages to trick people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive data, or paying cybercriminals money. With the latest technological developments, it has become really important to stay vigilant in the digital era not only protecting your computers but safeguarding the devices that fit in the palm of your hand, CERT warning plays a vital role in this. Awareness and best practices play a pivotal role in safeguarding yourself from evolving threats.
Reference
- https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/government-warns-of-smishing-attacks-heres-how-to-stay-safe-4709458
- https://zeenews.india.com/technology/govt-warns-citizens-about-smishing-scam-how-to-protect-against-this-online-threat-2654285.html
- https://www.the420.in/protect-against-smishing-scams-cert-in-advice-online-safety/
Executive Summary
A video is going viral on social media with the claim that ₹500 Indian currency notes were found inside a bag during the floods in Nepal. A research by CyberPeace’s research wing found that the video is not from the recent floods in Nepal, but from Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh. The video was uploaded on July 14 by an Instagram creator on their account. The 30-second video shows people travelling in a boat finding a bag floating in the water, from which several ₹500 currency notes are pulled out.
Claim:
The video has been shared on X with a caption claiming that Nepal is witnessing widespread destruction following severe floods, with people seen wading through muddy, debris-filled water to search for and recover their belongings. The caption further claims that people found a bag containing ₹500 Indian currency notes and were seen rejoicing over the discovery. It also cautions that entering fast-flowing, debris-filled floodwater is extremely dangerous.
https://x.com/SanjuKu79832010/status/2093238274206887946
Fact Check:
To verify the viral video claiming that a bag containing ₹500 Indian currency notes was found during the floods in Nepal, we conducted a reverse image search using keyframes from the footage. The search led us to a video uploaded on the Instagram account ‘parshuram_676’ on July 14, 2024.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Daw7aYJAjoc/
Additionally, we found the same boat seen in the viral video in several other videos uploaded on the same Instagram account.
Not only that, we also found several videos with visuals similar to those in the viral video uploaded on the same video creator’s Facebook account. The information provided on the Facebook account also lists Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, as the location.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567184794045
Conclusion:
The evidence gathered during our research clearly establishes that the video being circulated with the claim that ₹500 Indian currency notes were found inside a bag during the floods in Nepal was actually filmed by a video creator in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh.
