#FactCheck: Old Video of Priest Being Assaulted Misleadingly Shared With False Harassment Claim
Executive Summary
A video showing a man being beaten with a cricket bat is being widely shared on social media. It is being claimed that a priest had allegedly misbehaved with a girl at the same house where he had gone to perform a puja, following which the girl’s brother beat him up. However, our Research found the claim to be misleading. CyberPeace Research found that the video is around four years old. According to reports, the man was beaten after he allegedly objected to a cricket bat being kept inside a temple. Four youths were arrested by the police in connection with the incident.
Claim:
An X user shared the viral video with the caption: “The priest went to a house to perform a puja, where he first harassed a girl, and then the girl’s brother played T20. The sensible girl informed her family. The priest who predicts other people’s future could not predict his own—that his honour was also going to be at stake.”
https://x.com/vineel_ydv/status/1837299886921753054?s=20
https://ghostarchive.org/archive/b91vB
Fact Check
To verify the viral claim, we searched Google using relevant keywords. During the search, we did not find any credible media reports supporting the claim. To further verify the claim, we conducted a reverse image search of keyframes from the video. During the search, we found a report published by Dainik Bhaskar on November 5, 2020. According to the report, police arrested four youths in connection with the assault of a priest in Fatehabad, Haryana. The report stated that three days earlier, the youths had beaten the priest with a cricket bat after he objected to them keeping the bat inside the temple.
https://www.bhaskar.com/local/haryana/news/fatehabad-haryana-priest-beaten-with-cricket-bat-very-hardly-in-fatehabad-police-arrested-four-accused-127888122.html
As part of the next step in our Research, we found a report published on the News18 website with a generic caption. The viral image was also included in the report.
Conclusion
Our Research found that the video is around four years old and is unrelated to the claim being circulated on social media. The incident took place after the priest objected to the youths keeping a cricket bat inside the temple, following which he was assaulted with the bat. Police subsequently arrested four youths in connection with the incident. Therefore, the claim that the priest was beaten after allegedly harassing a girl at the house where he had gone to perform a puja is misleading.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping is being shared on social media. The video is being shared with the claim that during the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi gifted Xi Jinping a portrait featuring his own image. The post also takes aim at Prime Minister Modi based on this claim. Research by CyberPeace found that the video dates back to October 2019 and shows an exchange of gifts between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. On the concluding day of the Mamallapuram Summit, Prime Minister Modi gifted Xi Jinping a large, handcrafted silk shawl. In return, Xi Jinping presented Prime Minister Modi with a porcelain souvenir bearing his portrait.
Claim:
A video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping is being shared on Facebook with the claim that during the BRICS Summit, Prime Minister Modi gifted Xi Jinping a portrait of himself.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1109664078425193
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we conducted a Google search using relevant keywords. During the search, we found a report published by Navbharat Times on September 12, 2026. According to the report, Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. His aircraft landed at Palam Airport at around noon on Saturday. This is his first visit to India in nearly seven years.The report further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping were scheduled to meet at around 5 pm on the same day. This made it clear during our research that the video being shared on social media is not from the current BRICS Summit and is an old video.
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 a report published by Business Standard on October 13, 2019, which contained visuals from the viral video. According to the report, Chinese President Xi Jinping left for Nepal on Saturday aboard an Air China aircraft, concluding his second informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which signalled a recalibration of bilateral ties. Xi spent around 24 hours in India.During his visit, he travelled to Mamallapuram near Chennai and held informal talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Delegation-level talks between the two countries were also held.
https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/moving-the-needle-119101300820_1.html
In the next step of our research, we found a report published by Economic Times on October 14, 2019. The report also contained the same visuals from the viral video and presented them in their original context.
Conclusion
The evidence gathered during our research makes it clear that the video being shared on social media is not from the BRICS Summit, but is an old video from 2019. This confirms that the video is being shared on social media by taking it out of its original context and falsely linking it to the BRICS Summit. Therefore, the claim that the viral video is from the BRICS Summit is misleading.
Executive Summary
A video of actress Kangana Ranaut is being shared on social media with the claim that she observed the Karwa Chauth fast for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. CyberPeace Research found the viral claim to be false. Our research revealed that the video dates back to June 2026, when MP Kangana Ranaut performed a puja in Jodhpur to mark 12 years of the Modi government and prayed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long life.
Claim:
A user on social media platform X shared the viral video on October 29, 2026, with the caption: “Kangana observed the Karwa Chauth fast for Modi ji’s long life.” The post link, archive link and screenshot are provided below.
https://x.com/JumlaGuru2/status/2115679529742295307?a=msomkzvR3AP6rXIKj44&s=20
Fact Check
To verify the viral claim, we first searched Google using relevant keywords. However, we did not find any credible media reports supporting the claim.
We then conducted a reverse image search using keyframes from the viral video. During this process, we found the same video on the Facebook page of TV9 Bharatvarsh, where it was published on June 12, 2026. According to the post’s caption, BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut performed a puja at a Ganesh temple to mark 12 years of the central government and prayed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long life and good health. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1334827725455458
As the research progressed, we also found the video on the YouTube channel of Times Now Navbharat, where it was published on June 12, 2026, with a neutral caption. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V971aT2e98Y
Conculsion
Our research found that the video dates back to June 2026, when MP Kangana Ranaut performed a puja in Jodhpur to mark 12 years of the Modi government and prayed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long life.
Introduction
Significantly, in March 2023, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002's regulations placed Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers functioning located under the purview of the Anti Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) scheme. An important step toward controlling VDA SP operations and guaranteeing adherence to Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) regulations.
The significance of AML-CFT procedures
The AML-CFT framework's incorporation of Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (VDA SPs) is essential for protecting the banking industry from illegal activities including the laundering of funds and counter-financing of terrorist attacks. These regulations become more crucial as the market for digital assets develops and becomes more well-known.
The practice of money laundering is hiding the source of the sum received illegally, thus it's critical to have strict policies in place to track down and stop these kinds of operations. Furthermore, funding for terrorism is a serious danger to international safety, hence stopping the flow of money to terrorist companies is a top concern for global officials.
The goal of policymakers' move to include VDA SPs in the AML-CFT architecture is to set up control and surveillance procedures that will guarantee these organisations' open and honest operations. This involves tracking transactions, flagging questionable activity, and conducting extensive customer investigations. Incorporating such procedures not only reduces the potential for financial crimes but also builds confidence and trust in the electronic asset market.
It is important to see the significance of AML-CFT procedures and the changes in the legal framework to reflect the evolving characteristics of digital currencies. These procedures are essential to preserving the reliability and safety of the wider banking system.
Notifications of Compliance Show Cause
Under Section 13 of the PMLA Act 2002, FIU IND sent adherence Show Cause Notices to nine offshore Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (VDA SPs) as part of its dedication to upholding compliance with regulations. This affirmative step requires organisations to be scrutinised and attempted to bring them under inspection.
Governmental Response
The Director of FIU IND has addressed the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to take further measures due to the disregard of offshore firms. According to the notification, URLs connected to these organisations that operate in India in violation of the PML Act's requirements must be blocked.
Mandatory Registration for VDA SPs
Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (both onshore and offshore) who perform a range of operations, including the trading of digital goods for monetary currencies, the distribution of digital currency, and the management or preservation of electronic assets, are now obliged to register with FIU.
Range of Statutory Responsibilities
In accordance with the PML Act, VDA SPs are subject to several requirements, including documentation, disclosure, and other duties. One of their responsibilities is to register with the FIU IND. The primary focus is on guaranteeing that VDA SPs comply with AML-CFT protocols, hence enhancing the general reliability of the banking industry.
Difficulties with Offshore Compliance
There are many obstacles in guaranteeing that offshore organisations comply with Anti Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT), chief amongst them being their unwillingness to undergo registration. Some overseas Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers (VDA SPs) have been reluctant to comply with the existing rules and regulations, even though they cater to a significant number of Indian users. There are several reasons for this hesitation, such as worries about heightened monitoring, the expense of compliance, and the apparent complexity of governmental processes. Regulatory organisations have taken steps to close the discrepancy between offshore businesses' real activities and the regulations they must follow. In addition to maintaining the trustworthiness of the economic system, resolving the issues with offshore adherence is essential for promoting confidence and openness in the market for electronic assets.
Conclusion
FIU IND has demonstrated its dedication to creating an effective regulatory framework for Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers through its recent measures. India hopes to fortify its countermeasures against money laundering and safeguard the financial well-being of its users by expanding the AML-CFT legislation to offshore firms. The continuous efforts to restrict the URLs of non-compliant companies show a proactive approach to stopping illicit activity and fostering a safe and law-abiding virtual asset ecosystem. The safety and soundness of the banking sector will be crucially maintained by laws and regulations as the digital world develops.
References
- https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1991372
- https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/books/reviews/business-economy/fiu-ind-issues-compliance-showcause-notices-to-nine-offshore-vda-sps/article67684613.ece
- https://business.outlookindia.com/news/fiu-issues-notice-to-9-offshore-crypto-platforms-writes-to-meity-for-blocking-of-urls
