#FactCheck: Video of Zepto Store Manager Being Assaulted in Mira Road Falsely Linked to CJP Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka
Executive Summary
A video is being shared on Facebook with the claim that it shows CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka being assaulted. The video shows several people beating a man. A picture of Ashutosh Ranka has been overlaid on the video along with the text, “CJP Private Video.” Some users commenting on the post also believe that the video genuinely shows Ranka being assaulted. CyberPeace Research found that the video is from Mira Road, where MNS workers had assaulted store manager Jay Pathak.
Claim
A video is being shared on Facebook claiming that it shows a private video of CJP.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1405149115120742
Fact Check
We first searched Google using keywords such as “CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka assaulted.” However, we did not find any credible media reports mentioning the incident described in the claim.
We then conducted a reverse image search of a frame from the viral video using Google Lens. This led us to a longer version of the same video, which was shared on October 10, 2026, by the X account @Suhas_News. According to the accompanying information, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers assaulted store manager Jay Pathak in Mira Road after female employees alleged that they had been treated inappropriately.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1405149115120742
https://x.com/Suhas_News/status/2108782017391525953
We also found the same video shared with the same information on the official Facebook page of news agency Midday India on October 10, 2026.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/4737845496451020
In the next stage of our research, we found a report published by Times Now on October 10, 2026, related to the viral video. According to the report, five female employees of a Zepto store located in the Shivar Garden area of Mira Road had accused their manager, Jai Pathak, of repeatedly touching them inappropriately and sexually harassing them.
Conclusion
Our research found that a video showing the assault of store manager Jai Pathak in Mira Road is being shared with the misleading claim that it shows CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka being beaten.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
A video showing a large crowd disrespecting the Indian tricolor along with American and Israeli flags is being widely shared on social media. Users sharing the video claim that the incident recently took place in Iran's capital, Tehran, showcasing "Iran's hatred towards India." However, a fact-check done by the CyberPeace Research Wing has revealed that this claim is misleading. The viral video was not filmed in Iran, but rather during a procession in Karachi, Pakistan.
The Claim
A user on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shared the video with the caption: "India’s biggest enemy is burning our flag and guess who is sitting silently? Iran is not our friend. Their hatred towards India is clearly visible, but our tricolor is being burnt in Iran." https://x.com/bhagwakrantivir/status/2071096021183246667 , https://archive.ph/6mGE8
Factcheck
Keyframes extracted from the viral video were searched using Google Lens. This led to an Instagram post containing the exact same footage. The caption of this post identified the location as Karachi, Pakistan, noting that the demonstration was held in support of Iran, during which flags of India, the US, and Israel were burnt.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DaDLQO6obcK/
Further keyword searches led to the official Instagram account of the 'Imamia Students Organization Karachi'. A video uploaded on June 25, 2026, showed the same event captured from a different camera angle. According to the caption, the footage is from a '9th Muharram' procession in Karachi.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DaApSBfIpNQ/
To conclusively establish the location, Google Maps Street View was used to cross-reference the physical landmarks seen in the video.The visual elements perfectly match Mohammad Ali Jinnah Road in Karachi, Pakistan.A distinct blue building named 'Mid Town', visible in the viral video, matches the Google Street View imagery of the location.
Conclusion
The research confirms that the video showing the burning and desecration of the Indian national flag is from Karachi, Pakistan, and not Tehran, Iran. The social media claims linking this incident to Iran are false and contextually misleading.
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Introduction
Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, announced that rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act are expected to be released by the end of January. The rules will be subject to a month-long consultation process, but their notification may be delayed until after the general elections in April-May 2024. Chandrasekhar mentioned changes to the current IT regulations would be made in the next few days to address the problem of deepfakes on social networking sites.
The government has observed a varied response from platforms regarding advisory measures on deepfakes, leading to the decision to enforce more specific rules. During the Digital India Dialogue, platforms were made aware of existing provisions and the consequences of non-compliance. An advisory was issued, and new amended IT rules will be released if satisfaction with compliance is not achieved.
When Sachin Tendulkar reported a deepfake on a site where he was seen endorsing a gaming application, it raised concerns about the exploitation of deepfakes. Tendulkar urged the reporting of such incidents and underlined the need for social media companies to be watchful, receptive to grievances, and quick to address disinformation and deepfakes.
The DPDP Act, 2023
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) 2023 is a brand-new framework for digital personal data protection that aims to protect individuals' digital personal data. The act ensures compliance by the platforms collecting personal data. The act aims to provide consent-based data collection techniques. DPDP Act 2023 is an important step toward protecting individual privacy. The Act, which requires express consent for the acquisition, administration, and processing of personal data, seeks to guarantee that organisations follow the stated objective for which user consent was granted. This proactive strategy coincides with global data protection trends and demonstrates India's commitment to safeguarding user information in the digital era.
Amendments to IT rules
Minister Chandrasekhar declared that existing IT regulations would be amended in order to combat the rising problem of deepfakes and disinformation on social media platforms. These adjustments, which will be published over the next few days, are primarily aimed at countering widespread of false information and deepfake. The decision follows a range of responses from platforms to deepfake recommendations made during Digital India Dialogues.
The government's stance: blocking non-compliant platforms
Minister Chandrasekhar reaffirmed the government's commitment to enforcing the updated guidelines. If platforms fail to follow compliance, the government may consider banning them. This severe position demonstrates the government's commitment to safeguarding Indian residents from the possible harm caused by false information.
Empowering Users with Education and Awareness
In addition to the upcoming DPDP Act Rules/recommendations and IT regulation changes, the government recognises the critical role that user education plays in establishing a robust digital environment. Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasised the necessity for comprehensive awareness programs to educate individuals about their digital rights and the need to protect personal information.
These instructional programs seek to equip users to make informed decisions about giving consent to their data. By developing a culture of digital literacy, the government hopes to guarantee that citizens have the information to safeguard themselves in an increasingly linked digital environment.
Balancing Innovation with User Protection
As India continues to explore its digital frontier, the junction of technology innovation and user safety remains a difficult balance. The upcoming Rules on the DPDP Act and modifications to existing IT rules represent the government's proactive efforts to build a strong framework that supports innovation while protecting user privacy and combating disinformation. Recognising the changing nature of the digital world, the government is actively participating in continuing discussions with stakeholders such as industry professionals, academia, and civil society. These conversations promote a collaborative approach to policy creation, ensuring that legislation is adaptable to the changing nature of cyber risks and technology breakthroughs. Such inclusive talks demonstrate the government's dedication to transparent and participatory governance, in which many viewpoints contribute to the creation of effective and nuanced policy. These advances reflect an important milestone in India's digital journey, as the country prepares to set a good example by creating responsible and safe digital ecosystems for its residents.
Reference :
- https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/govt-may-release-personal-data-bill-rules-in-a-fortnight/articleshow/106162669.cms?from=mdr
- https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/dpdp-rules-expected-to-be-released-by-end-of-the-month-mos-chandrasekhar-124011600679_1.html
Introduction
In a world perpetually in motion, the currents of the information superhighway surge ceaselessly, molding perceptions, shaping realities, and often blurring the lines that tether truth to its moorings. At the heart of this relentless churn lies a conundrum that has become all too familiar, in which veracity is obscured by the shadow-play of misinformation. Emblematic of this dilemma is the narrative of Virat Kohli, a name that has become synonymous not only with cricketing brilliance but with the complexities of a modern era where digital echo chambers amplify half-truths and outright fabrications with alarming efficacy.
It is within this intricate fabric of the digital realm that the saga of Virat Kohli—a titan of cricket whose arsenal of strokes and strategic acumen have captivated audiences worldwide—takes on a dimension that transcends the sport. The speculative murmurs have been converted into roaring waves of misinformation, crafting a narrative that, while devoid of truth, assumes a disconcerting life. This digital osmosis, the transmutation from a quiet inkling to a deafening chorus of credibility, exemplifies the troublesome dynamic that has come to define our interactions with news media in the 21st century.
Fact check: Viral Misinformation
A viral post about Virat Kohli's mother suffering from liver issues has gone viral on social media. The claim came after Kohli withdrew from the India-England test series citing 'personal reasons'. Vikas Kohli, brother of Virat Kohli, clarified on Instagram that the viral news about their mother is false. He clarified that their mother is doing well and the viral claim is false. Vikas Kohli's Instagram page dismissed the viral claim, stating that he noticed the fake news and requested the media not to spread such news without proper information.
Fake Health Crisis
As this virulent strain of rumour regarding the health of Saroj Kohli, Virat Kohli’s mother, began to swell into the digital domain, it brought to the forefront a critical examination of the checks and balances within our networks of communication. Saroj, whose resilience and nurturing presence had been an anchor in the athlete's storied journey, undeservedly became the nucleus of a fictitious tale of despair, giving us pause to reflect on the ethical boundaries of storytelling in the world of clicks and views.
Vikas Kohli—the elder brother of Virat Kohli—took to social media, the very platform from which the falsehood originated, to stand as the bulwark against the spread of this groundless narrative.
The Consequences
The consequences of such falsehoods and their rapid dissemination are manifold, affecting individuals and communities in profound ways. The motivations behind the proliferation of deceitful stories are as labyrinthine as the networks they traverse - from manipulation and economic incentives to the pursuit of sheer sensationalism or cynical entertainment, each strand intertwines to form an intricate web wherein truth struggles to assert itself.
Conclusion
In the ceaseless expanses of the digital cosmos, where one can easily drift into the void of falsities, let the narrative of Virat Kohli stand as a sentinel, a reminder of our duty to navigate these waters with vigilance and to preserve the sanctity of truth. Amidst the vast ocean of content that laps in our consciousness, it is precisely this unwavering dedication to facts that will act as our compass, enabling us to discern the credible beacons from the deceptive mirages and ultimately ensuring that our discourse remains moored in the bedrock of reality.
References
- https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/virat-kohli-mother-sick-liver-disease-fact-check
- https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ind-vs-eng-virat-kohlis-brother-dismisses-fake-news-circulating-about-their-mother-9136144/
- https://www.outlookindia.com/amp/story/sports/ind-vs-eng-virat-kohlis-brother-slams-fake-news-on-their-mothers-health
