#FactCheck - Old SBI ATM Site Turned Salon Misrepresented in Viral Social Media Claim
Executive Summary
A video is going viral on social media claiming that a salon has been opened inside a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM in Bihar. The video is also being used by some users to take political jibes at the central and state governments led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, the CyberPeace Research Wing’s research has found that this claim is misleading. The location shown in the viral video was earlier an SBI ATM, which had been shut down around six months ago. After the bank discontinued its operations at the site, the ATM machine and other equipment were removed. However, the external structure of the ATM cabin and the SBI signage were not removed at that time. After the premises were vacated, the property owner rented out the space to a salon operator. Since the SBI board and branding were still visible on the structure, the video created confusion and went viral with misleading claims.
Following the circulation of the video, the bank later removed its signage from the location and also cleared all remaining SBI branding from the structure. Our research also found that the bank had removed the ATM machine and equipment months earlier, but the cabin structure and SBI board were left behind. After that, the space was rented out for commercial use as a salon. In this context, it would be incorrect to claim that a salon was opened inside an active SBI ATM.
Claim
A Facebook user ‘Soumitra Roy’ shared a video on 11 May 2026 claiming:
“Someone has opened a barber shop inside an SBI ATM in Bihar. The BJP’s double-engine government has developed Bihar so much that loan EMIs can now be deducted directly inside ATMs. This is Modi’s masterstroke.”
- https://www.facebook.com/reel/980962511535926
- https://perma.cc/WTY2-WEQQ
Fact Check
To verify the viral claim, a keyword search based on the video was conducted. Several media reports were found, which clarified the full context of the incident. A report uploaded on the YouTube channel ‘Live Cities’ on 12 May 2026 stated that a salon was running at a former ATM location in Danapur, Bihar. The bank had already vacated the premises about six months earlier, but its signage had not been removed. The report also includes an interview with the property owner, who confirmed that the bank had removed its ATM machine and equipment six months ago and later the space was rented out to a salon operator.
The viral video was also found on the Jagran website in a news report dated 11 May 2026. The report states that an SBI ATM previously existed at the location. The bank had removed the ATM machine due to operational reasons but left behind the external structure and signage. Later, the space was rented out to a salon operator, who began running his business from the same setup.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral post is misleading. It is incorrect to claim that a salon was opened inside an SBI ATM. The truth is that the bank had shut down the ATM at this location around six months ago and removed all machines and equipment. After that, the premises were rented out to a salon operator, which led to confusion due to the presence of old SBI signage.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary:
Amid the ongoing tensions and conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, an image of a heavily damaged industrial facility is circulating widely on social media. Several users are sharing the picture claiming that it shows an Iranian water treatment or desalination plant destroyed in a US–Israel attack. Some media reports have also used the same image while reporting on the alleged attack on a freshwater desalination plant in Iran.
However, a research by the CyberPeace found that the claim is misleading. The viral image is not from Iran. It actually shows the aftermath of a drone attack on a warehouse belonging to a US company in Basra, Iraq.
Claim
X user “Shashank Shekhar Jha” shared the image on March 8, 2026, claiming that a freshwater desalination plant in Qeshm, Iran, had been destroyed.
Fact check
To verify the claim, we conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the search, we found a report published on March 7, 2026, on the website of Asian News International (ANI). The report stated that Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi condemned a US attack on a freshwater desalination plant on Qeshm Island, calling it a “blatant and desperate crime.”
The report used the same viral image; however, the caption clearly mentioned that it was a representational image credited to Reuters.
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/middle-east/blatant-and-desperate-crime-irans-fm-condemns-us-attack-on-qeshms-freshwater-desalination-plant-warns-of-grave-consequences20260307212645/
To further confirm the claim, we checked the official X account of Seyed Abbas Araghchi. In a post on March 7, he condemned the alleged attack on the desalination plant in Qeshm and stated that the strike had disrupted water supply to around 30 villages. However, the post did not include any image of the incident.
Conclusion
The viral image being shared as evidence of a US–Israel attack on Iran’s water treatment plant is misleading. The photo actually shows the aftermath of a drone strike on a warehouse belonging to a US company in Basra, Iraq, and has been wrongly linked to the situation in Iran.
Introduction
On April 30, 2025, the Supreme Court of India delivered a landmark judgment that cast a sharp light on one of the most overlooked yet pressing issues in modern governance—digital inequity. In a country that has a staggering 900 million Internet users, the ruling highlights a disheartening reality, a paradox that brings the “digital divide” to centre stage. While India may be the world’s second-largest online market, a significant segment of its population remains digitally disenfranchised. The judgment, delivered in response to two interconnected petitions, underscored that access to the internet is no longer a luxury but a lifeline integral to exercising fundamental rights. The court pointed out in clear terms that the government must build a digital ecosystem that is inclusive and accessible to all and attributed the right to digital access as an intrinsic part of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 as enshrined under the Indian Constitution.
Understanding the Context: What Prompted the Petitions?
The judgment springs out of two writ petitions, which sought instructions or guidelines for people with blindness or limited vision and acid attack survivors, respectively, to conduct digital Know Your Customer (KYC)/e-KYC/video KYC mandated by RBI’s KYC Master Directions, 2016, which were reserved for judgment on January 28. The court delivered the judgment on April 30, 2025, emphasising the fact that true inclusion in this digital era is confounded in an inclusive digital infrastructure, and it must provide reasonable accommodation to those who face impediments due to any disability or disfigurement.
In consonance with its view, it laid down various guidelines that ensure that all persons with disabilities or acid attack survivors are treated even when digital processes are involved in accordance with the provisions of the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (hereinafter referred to as “RPwD Act”)
Another major observation made by the Honourable SC judges is that the mode of facilitation of government services is through digital platforms, i.e., e-governance, and access to all these welfare schemes is the right of every citizen, irrespective of the fact that they suffer from any disability. The failure of the provisioning of e-governance of these facilities to these individuals is a gross failure of the objectives of these schemes.
Key Observations and Directives
The court directed the government to release fresh guidelines that establish alternative methods to conduct digital KYC/e-KYC for all persons who suffer any impairment, low vision, or disfigurement with greater sensitivity, particularly for acid-attack survivors. The court made its intention very clear that the right to digital access is intrinsic to the right to life and liberty. All the tasks that are included within the ambit of digital KYC, such as pen-on-paper signatures, screen signatures, and the brief window for OTP entry, create an inaccessible and exclusionary framework, violating not just the dignity but the legal rights granted protection under the RPwD Act, 2016. The ruling directs a fundamental reimagining of digital governance through the lens of inclusion, equality, and dignity.
Conclusion
The court is not mincing its words when it declares digital accessibility as a constitutional imperative; it has made it clear that bridging the digital divide is no longer optional but a legal duty. The decision marks the new beginning and a propeller of digital transformation, and a delightful amalgamation of digital access and the rights of people. The effect of this judgment will not be restricted to one class of people. Still, it will cater to all those individuals who face these obstacles on a daily basis due to the exclusionary nature of digital platforms.
References
Executive Summary:
A misleading video claiming to show fireworks at Dubai International Cricket Stadium following India’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy win has gone viral, causing confusion among viewers. Our investigation confirms that the video is unrelated to the cricket tournament. It actually depicts the fireworks display from the December 2024 Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony at Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium. This incident underscores the rapid spread of outdated or misattributed content, particularly in relation to significant sports events, and highlights the need for vigilance in verifying such claims.
Claim:
The circulated video claims fireworks and a drone display at Dubai International Cricket Stadium after India's win in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Fact Check:
A reverse image search of the most prominent keyframes in the viral video led it back to the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, which was hosted by Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait on December 21, 2024. The fireworks seen in the video correspond to the imagery in this event. A second look at the architecture of the stadium also affirms that the venue is not Dubai International Cricket Stadium, as asserted. Additional confirmation from official sources and media outlets verifies that there was no such fireworks celebration in Dubai after India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 win. The video has therefore been misattributed and shared with incorrect context.
Fig: Claimed Stadium Picture
Conclusion:
A viral video claiming to show fireworks at Dubai International Cricket Stadium after India's 2025 ICC Champions Trophy win is misleading. Our research confirms the video is from the December 2024 Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony at Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Ahmad Stadium. A reverse image search and architectural analysis of the stadium debunk the claim, with official sources verifying no such celebration took place in Dubai. The video has been misattributed and shared out of context.
- Claim: Fireworks in Dubai celebrate India’s Champions Trophy win.
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
