#FactCheck: Claim of Rs 1,000 Notes Returning to Circulation Is False; RBI Has Issued No New Notes

Forensic Reality Check

A screenshot shows what appeared on a screen. It does not automatically prove who created the content, whether it was altered, or what happened outside the frame.

Introduction

In today's period of time ,we observe that a screenshot seems like evidence. A screenshot can feel like proof. The screenshot comes with a name, a timestamp, a profile picture and a message all neatly placed inside an app we know well. In cases involving fraud, harassment, workplace conflicts or cybercrime individuals often send a screenshot first to the police, a company or a lawyer. This makes sense. When something troubling shows up on a phone or computer taking a screenshot feels like the thing to do. The screenshot captures the moment like a photo.

There is another side to evidence. A screenshot only shows what was on the screen at that moment. The screenshot does not tell us where the content came from. The screenshot does not show who had control of the account. The screenshot does not say if the image was edited. The screenshot does not reveal what happened before or after the screenshot was taken. The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam 2023 recognizes records. The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam also sets out rules for proving them. That means the real question is not just "Is this screenshot real?" The bigger question is, "Can we explain and verify the story behind it?”

A screenshot is evidence - but not automatically the whole story

Think of a common situation. A person receives a screenshot of a chat in which someone appears to demand money and threaten to publish private documents. The image looks genuine. Yet an investigator would still ask: Was the message actually sent? From which account or device? Does the date and time match the service records? Is the conversation complete?

Those questions do not make the screenshot useless. They make the investigation stronger.

Digital information can be copied, compressed, cropped, forwarded, or edited with little visible sign. NIST describes digital evidence as information of probative value stored or transmitted in binary form and emphasises preservation because digital files are easy to change. [3][4] The forensic mindset is simple: ask whether an image’s origin, context and integrity can be explained.

What makes a screenshot more reliable?

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A stronger evidence package normally answers five practical questions:

• Source - Where did the image come from: a phone, laptop, messaging application, email client, cloud account, or another person?

• Context - Does it preserve the relevant username, number, URL, date, time, surrounding messages, and sequence?

• Integrity - Has the original file been retained, and can later changes be detected?

• Corroboration - Do other records support the same event, such as device artifacts, email headers, transaction data, or witness accounts?

• Chain of custody - Who collected it, when, how was it transferred, and where was it stored?

Hashing helps with integrity. A cryptographic hash acts like a digital fingerprint for a file. If the file changes, its hash value changes. NIST recommends hashing digital images and other evidence objects and securely preserving the resulting hash values. [4][5] A hash does not prove the content is truthful; it helps show that the file examined is the file that was preserved.

The Indian legal angle: admissibility is not the same as authenticity

India’s current evidence framework is equally important. The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024. Section 61 says an electronic or digital record cannot be denied admissibility merely because it is electronic, subject to the Act. Section 62 directs that electronic records are proved in accordance with Section 63. [1]

Section 63 sets out conditions for admissibility and, where it applies, requires a certificate to accompany the electronic record when submitted for admission. The Schedule includes device details and fields for the relevant hash value and algorithm. [2]

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There is an important practical nuance: not every screenshot automatically requires the same proof route. Treatment can depend on what is produced, how it was obtained, and how it is tendered. Investigators should preserve the underlying source wherever lawfully possible rather than treat a screenshot as a self-proving substitute for the original record.

In Pooranmal v. State of Rajasthan, decided on 10 March 2026, the Supreme Court considered call detail records rather than screenshots and held, in that case, that the certificate requirement under Section 63 was mandatory for the electronic record relied upon there. [6] The broader lesson is that digital evidence must be presented through the legal proof framework that applies to it.

REALISTIC EXAMPLE  A screenshot arrives. The investigation starts.

Consider a realistic cyber-fraud complaint. A victim receives a screenshot showing what appears to be a message from a senior company executive asking an employee to transfer money urgently. The safest response is not to decide immediately whether it “looks genuine.” The investigator can preserve the original image, record its source, calculate a hash, and look for supporting material: the actual chat or email, device data, account identifiers, timestamps, transaction records, or login history.

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Suppose the screenshot says 3:14 p.m., but the underlying account record shows the message was never sent. That contradiction becomes an investigative lead. If the screenshot matches the original device data and independent records, its evidentiary value becomes stronger.

The human side matters too. A victim should not be criticised for taking a screenshot. In many incidents, it is the quickest way to show another person what happened. The forensic response is simply to go one step further: preserve first, verify next, interpret last.

A small checklist can prevent a big evidentiary problem

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The bigger lesson

Screenshots are valuable because they can preserve a moment that may later disappear: a threat, a suspicious payment instruction, a spoofed webpage, or a social-media post. But a convincing image is not the same thing as a complete digital record.

Good digital forensics connects the artifact to a source, a timeline, a method of collection, and independent facts. NIST’s work on digital evidence emphasises preservation, controlled handling, and awareness of the limits of forensic conclusions. [3][4] Confidence should follow the evidence, not replace it.

Conclusion

So, can a screenshot be evidence? The important question is whether the screenshot can be verified, put into context and backed up by evidence when the case needs it. For citizens the practical advice is clear: keep the screenshot, do not delete the screenshot, keep the screenshot and do not rely only on a forwarded copy. Preserving the source device or original platform record were lawful and possible.

For investigators and organisations, the standard is higher. Record the source and collection details preserve the screenshot, calculate and document hashes, maintain chain of custody and seek corroboration. A screenshot can open the door to an investigation. Good forensic practice is what helps establish what happened on the side of that door.

References

[1] India Code, The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, Sections 61-62; commencement from 1 July 2024. Source

[2] India Code, The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, Section 63 and Schedule - certificate for electronic records, including device particulars and hash value fields. Source

[3] NIST, Digital Evidence, overview of digital evidence and forensic challenges. Source

[4] NIST, Digital Evidence Preservation: Considerations for Evidence Handlers, NISTIR 8387, 2022. Source

[5] NIST / OSAC Lexicon, “Hash, Hash Value,” 2025. Source

[6] Supreme Court of India, Pooranmal v. State of Rajasthan & Anr., 2026 INSC 217, judgment dated 10 March 2026. Source

[7] NIST, ANSI/ASTM E3016-18 Standard Guide for Establishing Confidence in Digital and Multimedia Evidence Forensic Results by Error Mitigation Analysis. Source

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Introduction

In the vast expanse of the digital cosmos, where the tendrils of the internet weave an intricate tapestry of connectivity, the channels through which information cascades have become a labyrinth of enigma and complexity. As we traverse this boundless virtual landscape, the line demarcating fact from fiction blurs, leaving the essence of truth adrift in a deluge of data. Amidst this ceaseless flow, platforms such as YouTube, Meta, and Twitter emerge as bulwarks in a pivotal struggle against the insidious spectres of fake news and disinformation—a struggle as fervent and consequential as any historical skirmish over the dominion of truth and influence.

Let us delve into a few case studies that illustrate the multifaceted nature of this digital warfare, where the stakes are nothing less than the integrity of public discourse and the sanctity of societal harmony.

Case 1: A Chief Minister's Stand Against Digital Deception

In the northeastern reaches of India, Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, confronted disinformation head-on. With the spectre of elections looming like a storm on the horizon, he took to the microblogging site X to unveil a nefarious scheme—a doctored video intended to distort his speech and sow seeds of communal discord. 'See for yourself, as elections approach, how vested groups distort a speech with the criminal intention of spreading disinformation and communal disharmony. The long arms of the law will catch up with these elements,' declared Sarma, his words a clarion call for vigilance.

The counterfeit video, crafted to smear the Chief Minister's reputation, elicited a swift and decisive response from Assam's Director General of Police, G.P. Singh. 'Noted Sir. CID Assam would register a criminal case and investigate the people behind this,' assured Singh, signalling the readiness of the law to pursue the purveyors of falsehood.

Case 2: Waves of Deceit: Unverified Claims of Cancellations in the Maldives Tourism Controversy

The narrative shifts to the idyllic archipelago of the Maldives, where the azure waters belie a tumultuous undercurrent of diplomatic discord with India. Following disparaging remarks by Maldivian officials directed at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the social media sphere became rife with claims of Indian tourists en masse cancelling their sojourns to the island nation. Screenshots purporting to show cancelled bookings flooded platforms like X, with one user claiming to have annulled a reservation at the Palms Retreat, Fulhadhoo, to the tune of at least Rs 5 lakh, citing the officials' 'racist remarks.'

Initial reports from a few media outlets lent credence to this narrative of widespread cancellations. However, upon closer scrutiny, the veracity of these claims crumbled like a sandcastle at high tide. Concrete evidence to substantiate the alleged boycott was conspicuously absent, and neither travel agencies nor airlines corroborated the supposed trend.

The controversy was inflamed when PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, and subsequent social media posts praising the archipelago, spurred Indian users to champion Lakshadweep as an alternative to the Maldives. The vitriolic response from Maldivian ministers, who labelled Modi with derogatory remarks, ignited a firestorm on X, with hashtags like #BoycottMaldives and #MaldivesBoycott trending fervently.

Yet, the truth behind the cacophony of cancellation numbers remains shrouded in ambiguity, with no official acknowledgement from either government and a conspicuous absence of data from the tourism industry.

Case 3: Misinformation Highway: Unraveling the Fabrications in Bollywood's rumours or misinformation: Lies, Thumbnails, and Digital Dalliances

Gaze now turns to the bustling fabricated thumbnails or rumour taglines on uploaded videos on YouTube, where thumbnails emblazoned with tantalising texts beckon viewers with the promise of scandalous revelations. 'Pregnant? Divorced?' they shout, luring millions into their web with the allure of salacious 'news.' Yet, these are but mirages, baseless rumours masquerading as fact, or worse, complete fabrications.

The platform teems with counterfeit narratives and rumours, targeting the luminaries of Bollywood. Factors such as easy content uploading without strict scrutiny, a burgeoning digital footprint, and India's insatiable appetite for celebrity culture have created a fertile ground for the proliferation of such content. It is a testament to the power of the digital age, where anyone with a connection can craft a narrative and cast it into the ether, regardless of its foundation in reality.

We must arm ourselves with discernment and scepticism in this relentless onslaught of misinformation. The digital realm, for all its wonders, is also a battleground where the currency is truth, and the price of negligence is the erosion of our collective understanding. As we navigate this ever-evolving landscape, let us hold fast to the principles of verification and evidence, for they are the compass by which we can chart a course through the maelstrom of misinformation that seeks to engulf us.

Conclusion

In this era of digital enlightenment, it is incumbent upon us to discern the chaff from the wheat, to elevate the discourse beyond the mire of falsehoods. Let us endeavour to foster a digital polity that values truth, champions authenticity, and resolutely stands against the tide of disinformation that threatens to undermine the very fabric of our society.

References:

1. https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/assam-cm-exposes-fake-video-scheme-dgp-promises-swift-action-743097-2024-01-08
2. https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/boycott-maldives-misinformation-on-trip-booking-cancellations
3. https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/bollywood-fake-news-on-youtube-uses-divorce-pregnancy-and-arrests-for-misinformation

Executive Summary: 

Recently, our team came across a video on social media that appears to show a saint lying in a fire during the Mahakumbh 2025. The video has been widely viewed and comes with captions claiming that it is part of a ritual during the ongoing Mahakumbh 2025. After thorough research, we found that these claims are false. The video is unrelated to Mahakumbh 2025 and comes from a different context and location. This is an example of how the information posted was from the past and not relevant to the alleged context.

Claim: 

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A video has gone viral on social media, claiming to show a saint lying in fire during Mahakumbh 2025, suggesting that this act is part of the traditional rituals associated with the ongoing festival. This misleading claim falsely implies that the act is a standard part of the sacred ceremonies held during the Mahakumbh event.

Fact Check: 

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Upon receiving the post we conducted a reverse image search of the key frames extracted from the video, and traced the video to an old article. Further research revealed that the original post was from 2009, when Ramababu Swamiji, aged 80, laid down on a burning fire for the benefit of society. The video is not recent, as it had already gone viral on social media in November 2009. A closer examination of the scene, crowd, and visuals clearly shows that the video is unrelated to the rituals or context of Mahakumbh 2025. Additionally, our research found that such activities are not part of the Mahakumbh rituals. Reputable sources were also kept into consideration to cross-verify this information, effectively debunking the claim and emphasizing the importance of verifying facts before believing in anything.

For more clarity, the YouTube video attached below further clears the doubt, which reminds us to verify whether such claims are true or not.

Conclusion:

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The viral video claiming to depict a saint lying in fire during Mahakumbh 2025 is entirely misleading. Our thorough fact-checking reveals that the video dates back to 2009 and is unrelated to the current event. Such misinformation highlights the importance of verifying content before sharing or believing it. Always rely on credible sources to ensure the accuracy of claims, especially during significant cultural or religious events like Mahakumbh.

• Claim: A viral video claims to show a saint lying in fire during the Mahakumbh 2025.
• Claimed On: X (Formerly Known As Twitter)
• Fact Check: False and Misleading