#FactCheck: Old Video of Student Protest Over NEET Paper Leak Falsely Linked to Demonstration Against CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Executive Summary
Reports of differences between the Chief Election Commissioner and the two Election Commissioners over the functioning of the Election Commission have emerged, following which protests were held across the country. Protesters demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took out a ‘Citizens March’ to Jantar Mantar on October 4, 2026. Against this backdrop, a video is being widely shared on social media. The video purportedly shows a CRPF personnel lathi-charging protesters. It is being shared with the claim that the footage is from the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. However, CyberPeace Research found the viral claim to be false. The viral video is not recent; it dates back to July 2026. At that time, students in Delhi were protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak and demanding the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Claim:
A Facebook user, ‘Kuldeep Pandit’, shared the viral video on October 4, 2026, with the caption: “The only thing left was the last ball, when Modi ji hit a six at the Jantar Mantar stadium and broke the backsides of traitors... Jantar Mantar is now under the control of the Indian Army, and the Army is giving freedom by the trolley load... Jai Shri Ram.”The archive link to the post can be viewed here.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1807020453964507
https://perma.cc/RN8J-XV4K?type=standard
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the viral video, we extracted several keyframes using the InVID tool and conducted a reverse image search on Google. During the search, we found the viral video shared on a Facebook account named ‘Jansandesh News’ on July 21, 2026. According to the information provided with the post, the video shows a protest held at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET paper leak.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1786356329397999
Based on the information obtained, we conducted a Google search using relevant keywords. We also found the viral video on an Instagram account named ‘datiabulletinofficial’. The video was shared on July 21, 2026, and was identified as footage from a protest held at Jantar Mantar. According to the caption, students were protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak and demanding the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DbFXpGHzmwB/
During our research, we found a news report related to the claim on the Hindustan Times website. The report was published on July 28, 2026. According to the report, “On July 20, students led by the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP) marched towards Parliament. During the protest, police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel lathi-charged the students, drawing considerable criticism. The Delhi Police later clarified that it would review the lathi-charge on the students and the action taken by the police.”The report also contains keyframes that closely resemble the visuals seen in the viral video.
Conclusion:
Our research found that the claim being made about the viral video of protesters being lathi-charged is false. The video dates back to July 2026, when students in Delhi held protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and demanded the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
A video is being shared on social media showing several people breaking iron barricades installed along the banks of a water body. The video is being shared with the claim that people broke the barricades after the Karnataka government imposed a ban on idol immersion to prevent pollution in the river. CyberPeace Research found the viral claim to be misleading. Our Research revealed that the video is not from Karnataka but from Hyderabad, Telangana. The video shows members of The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Committee (BGUS) removing barricades installed at Tank Bund to prevent the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in the water body. The barricades had been installed following the High Court’s directions. Therefore, the claim linking the video to Karnataka is incorrect.
Claim:
A Facebook user shared the video with the caption: “Chaos erupts in Karnataka over the ban on idol immersion! Breaking the iron barricades, they said — ‘We will immerse the idols in the river itself!’” The post link, archive link, and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1523733916224661
https://ghostarchive.org/archive/SJgmD
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, we conducted a reverse image search of keyframes from the video. During the search, we found the same video on the Facebook page of Brut India. According to the post, the video is from Hyderabad. The caption states that despite the restrictions, devotees removed the barricades and made way during the Ganesh idol immersion at Hyderabad’s Tank Bund. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2220012475615416
Taking the Research forward, we found the same video in a news report uploaded on the YouTube channel of ‘9Plus News’ on September 21, 2026. The report also includes the portion of the viral clip in which people can be seen breaking the barricades. According to the report, the incident took place in the Tank Bund area of Hyderabad. The post link and screenshot are provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7GRELjqAwY
Conclusion
Our Research found that the viral video is not from Karnataka but from Hyderabad, Telangana. The video shows members of the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Committee (BGUS) removing barricades installed at Tank Bund to prevent the immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in the water body. These barricades had been installed following the High Court’s directions. Therefore, the claim linking the video to Karnataka is false.
Introduction
In the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats, a novel menace has surfaced the concept of Digital Arrest. The impostors impersonating law enforcement officers deceive the victims into believing that their bank account, SIM card, Aadhaar card, or bank card has been used unlawfully. They coerce victims into paying them money. Digital Arrest involves the virtual restraint of individuals. These suspensions can vary from restricted access to the account(s), and digital platforms, to implementing measures to prevent further digital activities or being restrained on video calling or being monitored through video calling. In the era of digitisation where the technology is growing on an exponential phase, various existing loopholes are being utilised by the wrongdoers which has given rise to this sinister trend known as “digital arrest fraud”. In this scam, the defrauder manipulates the victims, who impersonate law enforcement officials and further traps the victims into a web of deception involving threats of imminent digital restraint and coerced financial transactions.
Recognizing the Danger of Digital Arrest
A recent case involving an interactive voice response (IVR) call that targeted a victim sheds light on the complexities of the "digital arrest" cybercrime. The victim was notified by the scammers—who were pretending to be law enforcement officers—that a SIM card in her name had apparently been utilised in a criminal incident in Mumbai. The call proceeded to a video conversation with an FBI agent who falsely accused her of being involved in money laundering. The victim was forced into a web of dishonesty because she now believed she was involved in a criminal case, underscoring the psychological manipulation these hackers were using.
Recent incidents of digital arrest fraud
- Recently, a complaint was registered at the Noida Cyber Crime Police Station made by a 50-year-old victim, who was deceived of over Rs 11 lakh and exposed to "digital arrest". By using the identities of an IPS officer in the CBI and the founder of an airline that was grounded, the attackers, masquerading as law enforcement officers, falsely accused the victim of being involved in a fake money-laundering case. She was told that she had another SIM card in her name that was used for fraudulent activities in Mumbai. The complaint made by the victim asserted “Victim’s call was transferred to a person (who identified himself as a Mumbai Police officer) who conducted the initial interrogation over the call and then on Skype VC, where she stayed from 9:30 AM to around 7 in the evening. The woman ended up transferring around ₹11.11 lakh. The scammers then ended contact with her, after which she realised she had been scammed.
- Another recent case of digital arrest fraud came from Faridabad. Where a 23-year-old girl got a call from a fraudster posing as a Lucknow customs officer. The caller said that a package was being shipped to Cambodia that included cards and passports associated with the victim's Aadhaar number. The victim was forced to believe that she was a part of illegal activity, which included trafficking in humans. Under the guise of police officials, the hackers made up allegations before extorting money from the victim. After that, she was told by a man acting as a CBI official that she needed to pay five per cent of the total which was Rs 15 lakh. She said the cybercriminals instructed her not to log off Skype. In the meantime, she ended up transferring Rs 2.5 lakh to a bank account shared by cybercriminals.
Measures to protect oneself from digital arrest
Sustaining a practical and observant approach towards cybersecurity is the key to lowering the peril of being targeted and experiencing digital arrest. Following are certain best practices for ensuring the same:
- Cyber Hygiene: This includes maintaining cyber hygiene by regularly updating passwords, and software and also enabling two-factor authentications to reduce the chances of unauthorized access.
- Phishing Attempts: These can be evaded by refraining from clicking on dubious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources and also authenticating the legitimacy of emails and messages before sharing any personal information.
- Secured devices: By installing reputable antivirus and anti-malware solutions and keeping operating systems and applications up to date with the latest security protocols.
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): VPNs can be employed to encrypt internet connections thus enhancing privacy and security. However one must be cautious of free VPN services and OTP only for trustworthy providers.
- Monitor online services: A regular review of online accounts for any unauthorized or unlawful activities and setting up alerts for any changes to account settings or login attempts may help in the early detection of cybercrime and coping with it.
- Secure communication channels: Using secure communication techniques such as encryption can be done for the protection of sensitive information. Sharing of passwords and other information must be cautiously done especially in public forums.
- Awareness: The increasing prevalence of cybercrime known as "digital arrest" underscores the need for preventive measures and increased public awareness. Educational initiatives that draw attention to prevalent cyber threats—especially those that include law enforcement impersonation—can enable people to identify and fend off scams of this kind. The collaboration of law enforcement agencies and telecommunication companies can effectively limit the access points used by fraudsters by identifying and blocking susceptible calls.
Conclusion
The rise of Digital Arrest presents a noteworthy and innovative threat to cybersecurity by taking advantage of people's weaknesses through deceitful impersonation and coercive measures. The case in Noida is a prime example of the boldness and skill of cybercriminals who use fear and false information to trick victims into thinking they are in danger of suffering harsh legal repercussions and taking large amounts of money. In order to combat this increasing cybercrime, people need to take a proactive and watchful stance when it comes to cybersecurity. Cyber hygiene techniques, such as two-factor authentication and frequent password changes, are essential for lowering the possibility of unwanted access. Important precautions include being aware of phishing efforts, protecting devices with reliable antivirus software, and using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to increase privacy. Cybercriminals and fraudsters often use fear as a powerful tool to manipulate people and exploit their vulnerabilities for illicit gains in the realms of cybercrime and financial fraud. To protect themselves against the sneaky threat of Digital Arrest, netizens must traverse the constantly changing cyber threat landscape with collective knowledge, educated practices, and strong cybersecurity measures.
References:
- https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/new-cyber-crime-trend-unravelled-in-up-woman-held-under-digital-arrest-123120200485_1.html
- https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/noida-woman-scammed-11-lakh-in-digital-arrest-scam-everything-you-need-to-know/articleshow/105727970.cms
- https://m.timesofindia.com/life-style/parenting/moments/23-year-old-faridabad-girl-on-digital-arrest-for-17-days-how-to-protect-your-children-from-cyber-crime/photostory/105442556.cms
Executive Summary:
A video online alleges that people are chanting "India India" as Ohio Senator J.D. Vance meets them at the Republican National Convention (RNC). This claim is not correct. The CyberPeace Research team’s investigation showed that the video was digitally changed to include the chanting. The unaltered video was shared by “The Wall Street Journal” and confirmed via the YouTube channel of “Forbes Breaking News”, which features different music performing while Mr. and Mrs. Usha Vance greeted those present in the gathering. So the claim that participants chanted "India India" is not real.
Claims:
A video spreading on social media shows attendees chanting "India-India" as Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha Vance greet them at the Republican National Convention (RNC).
Fact Check:
Upon receiving the posts, we did keyword search related to the context of the viral video. We found a video uploaded by The Wall Street Journal on July 16, titled "Watch: J.D. Vance Is Nominated as Vice Presidential Nominee at the RNC," at the time stamp 0:49. We couldn’t hear any India-India chants whereas in the viral video, we can clearly hear it.
We also found the video on the YouTube channel of Forbes Breaking News. In the timestamp at 3:00:58, we can see the same clip as the viral video but no “India-India” chant could be heard.
Hence, the claim made in the viral video is false and misleading.
Conclusion:
The viral video claiming to show "India-India" chants during Ohio Senator J.D. Vance's greeting at the Republican National Convention is altered. The original video, confirmed by sources including “The Wall Street Journal” and “Forbes Breaking News” features different music without any such chants. Therefore, the claim is false and misleading.
Claim: A video spreading on social media shows attendees chanting "India-India" as Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha Vance greet them at the Republican National Convention (RNC).
Claimed on: X
Fact Check: Fake & Misleading
