#FactCheck- Edited Video Falsely Shows Aaj Tak Anchor Anjana Om Kashyap Apologizing
Executive Summary
A purported video of Hindi news channel Aaj Tak anchor Anjana Om Kashyap is being widely shared on social media. In the viral clip, Kashyap appears to be apologising and questioning her own journalistic credibility. The CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be false. The probe revealed that the viral video was created by manipulating an original video of Anjana Om Kashyap. Her voice and statements were altered to falsely portray her as issuing an apology, whereas she made no such remarks in the original footage.
Claim:
A YouTube user shared the viral video claiming that Anjana Om Kashyap was apologising. The post can be seen here:
Fact Check
The keyframes of the viral video were analysed using reverse image search. During the research , the original reel was found on Anjana Om Kashyap’s Instagram account, where it was posted on December 26, 2023. In the original reel, Kashyap is seen praising Bihar. At no point does she apologise or make any statements similar to those heard in the viral clip.
Further research led to the original version of the video on Anjana Om Kashyap’s YouTube channel, uploaded on October 17, 2023. According to the video description, the speech was delivered during the ‘Bihar Meet’ event organised by the Indian People Forum in the UAE. Notably, none of the statements heard in the viral clip appear in the original speech.
The viral video was also analysed using the AI-detection tool Hive Moderation, which indicated a high likelihood of AI-generated or deepfake manipulation.
Conclusion
The research found that the viral video has been digitally altered and falsely shared on social media. The original video of Anjana Om Kashyap was edited, and the audio was manipulated to create the misleading impression that she was apologising. No such statement was made by her in the authentic video.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
A photograph showing Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan standing with a woman is being widely circulated on social media. Users are falsely claiming that the woman in the image is Manisha Mandhare, a teacher allegedly arrested in the NEET-UG paper leak case. CyberPeace Research Wing research confirms that the woman in the viral photograph is Dr. Nivedita Ekbote and not Manisha Mandhare. Social media users are falsely misidentifying her and linking her to the NEET paper leak case without evidence.
Claim
Several social media users, including Facebook and Instagram pages, have shared the image claiming that the woman seen with the Union Minister is Manisha Mandhare, who was arrested in connection with the NEET paper leak case.
- https://www.facebook.com/Sri.Media.Kannada/posts/pfbid0pCuJrhcz3mcf8MzYci4oWXaTKvaJYNjCtGo34Z6R9ztshWqs3QUupyHNu2K4Rodpl?rdid=WtnRhDM22ftHT9oe
- https://archive.is/uwmsj
Fact Check
A reverse image search of the viral photograph reveals that the woman is actually Dr. Nivedita Ekbote, Principal of Modern College and Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in Maharashtra. Nivedita Ekbote originally shared this photograph on December 18, 2024, across her official social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. According to the caption, the image was taken during the Pune Book Festival, where she met the Union Education Minister along with her parents.
In a public clarification, she stated that her photograph was being misused online. She added that the image was taken at a public event with several dignitaries and strongly condemned the circulation of false and misleading claims using it.
- https://x.com/EkboteNivedita/status/2056265520765399049?s=20
Further verification from credible news reports confirms that Manisha Mandhare, who is linked to the NEET paper leak case, is a senior botany teacher from Pune. She was reportedly appointed as a subject expert by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for NEET-related processes. Her identity is completely different from the woman seen in the viral image.
Conclusion
The viral claim is completely false and misleading. The woman seen with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is Dr. Nivedita Ekbote, and she has no connection to the NEET-UG paper leak case.
Introduction
Social media platforms serve as an ideal breeding ground for cybercrime. A new fraud called ‘WhatsApp Pink’ has emerged, promising new features and an improved UI. Several law enforcement and government agencies have already issued severe caution against the program, which is used to hack mobile phones and steal personal information.
What is a pink WhatsApp Scam?
WhatsApp is on a roll with new features, but the messaging app is also experiencing an increase in a new type of scam. The WhatsApp Pink scam, as it is known, is gaining steam. Police and government organisations in several states, including Mumbai, Kerala, and Karnataka, have warned about the scam. A North Region cybercrime wing tweet warned, “WHATSAPP PINK – A Red Alert for Android Users.” The government’s cybersecurity organisations have warned about the rise in pink WhatsApp scams.
Scammers and hackers target WhatsApp users with fake messages via the network in this scam. According to reports, the message contains a link directing users to download WhatsApp Pink, a bogus messaging program. According to sources, scammers are targeting many people with the promise that the next version will have a better interface and additional features.
The application also steals critical financial information such as OTP, bank account information, and contact information. When people open the link, harmful software is installed on their mobile phones, and scammers get access to the phones. The user may even lose access to their phone by downloading the app.
According to the advisory
The news about ‘New Pink Look WhatsApp with extra features’ recently circulating among WhatsApp users is a hoax that can lead to hacking of your mobile through malicious software.” It is uncommon for fraudsters to devise new tricks and methods to entice naive consumers into falling into their trap and committing cyber fraud. It is the users’ responsibility to be Aware, Alert, and Attentive to these types of frauds in order to be safe and secure in the digital world.”
The link that is present in the message, according to a notice from the police, is a phishing effort. By clicking the link, the user runs the risk of having their device compromised, which might allow scammers to steal their device information or use it without their permission.
Users run the possibility of suffering negative outcomes if they click the Pink WhatsApp link, as the Mumbai Police have warned. These dangers include financial loss, identity theft, spam attacks, unauthorised access to contact information and saved images, and even total loss of control over mobile devices.
Guidelines against the Scam
- If a user has installed the fake WhatsApp, the authorities have instructed that they uninstall it immediately by going into the mobile settings, selecting WhatsApp with the pink logo in Apps, and then uninstalling it.
- Users have been advised to exercise caution when clicking links from untrustworthy websites unless they have previously verified their legitimacy. Users are advised to only download and update software from reliable sites such as the official Google Play Store, the iOS App Store, and so on.
- individuals using the site have been told not to send any links or communications to other persons until they have received proper authentication or verification.
- To avoid misuse, users are advised not to disclose any personal or financial information, including passwords, login information, and credit or debit card information, to anybody online. Furthermore, in order to defend themselves against fraud attempts, users are encouraged to stay up to date on the most recent news and changes in order to be informed and careful about cybercriminal activities.
Why do Scammer target WhatsApp
WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging service; it can reach out to considerably more prospective victims than it could with another tool. A scammer’s victims are almost certainly using WhatsApp. If all their victims are in one app, the criminal can easily handle their activities.
Conclusion
WhatsApp users may reduce their chances of being victims of the pink WhatsApp scam significantly by following the guidelines issued by the advisory. WhatsApp has become the primary target for scams, as there is a large number of the population using WhatsApp so it will be easy for the Scammer to steal critical personal information and target another victim through WhatsApp. The pink WhatsApp Scam is exactly like it.
Executive Summary
During the Gau Raksha Yatra of Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, bees reportedly attacked a discourse event in Rohania area of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Following the incident, a picture has gone viral on social media showing bees attacking Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati. Several users are sharing the image as genuine while targeting the Shankaracharya online. CyberPeace Research Wing investigated the viral image and found it to be fake. Our research revealed that the picture was created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). While it is true that a bee attack occurred during Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati’s discourse program, the viral image itself is fabricated.
Claim
A Facebook user named “Sanjay Chaudhary” shared the viral image on May 15, 2026, with the caption: “Prakritik kop ka bhajan bana Shukracharya Umashankar alias Avimukteshwaranand… This Kaalnemi was delivering false sermons in Rohania, Varanasi in the name of religion… The bees from a nearby hive did not like it and collectively attacked, creating chaos. Even insects and nature no longer like the opposition’s politics disguised as Sanatan Dharma. Calling Yogi Ji Aurangzeb, Akbar and butcher is not acceptable even to nature and insects.”
Post link and archive link are given below:
- https://www.facebook.com/sanjaychaudhary073/posts/pfbid02kgts8igKDwgctz3MamECMGoGfQR5aWPTdsDgLeux3pD9jwP7ADfgNpoPfHvMb9Zul
- https://perma.cc/E6SE-BAXZ
Fact-Check
To verify the viral claim, we used Google Open Search tools and found reports related to the incident on the YouTube channel of News18 UP Uttarakhand. A report published on May 13, 2026 stated that bees attacked the discourse event during Swami Avimukteshwaranand’s Gau Raksha Yatra in Rohania, Varanasi. The incident created panic at the venue, forcing the Swami to end his discourse midway. The channel also uploaded a YouTube Shorts video related to the incident.
As part of the research, we further analyzed the viral image using AI detection tools. First, we used the tool “Sight Engine,” which indicated an 88 percent probability that the image was AI-generated.
We then examined the image using another AI detection tool called “Undetectable,” which also suggested that the photo was likely created using AI.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral image is AI-generated. The picture was created using artificial intelligence tools. While bees did attack during Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati’s Gau Raksha Yatra on May 13, 2026, the viral image circulating on social media is fictional and not real.
