#FactCheck-Deepfake Video Falsely Shows DRDO Chief Claiming ‘Agni-6 Was Washed with Cow Urine’
Research Wing
Innovation and Research
PUBLISHED ON
May 5, 2026
10
Executive Summary
A video of Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Chairman of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is going viral on social media. In the clip, he appears to claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed scientists to wash the Agni-6 missile with cow urine, and later use a mixture of cow dung and urine to prevent rusting. Research by CyberPeace Research Wing found that the video is a deepfake, created by manipulating original footage using AI tools. It was also shared by an account previously known for posting anti-India misinformation and is reportedly banned in India.
Claim
An X user named “Lovely” shared the video on May 1, 2026, alleging that Indian scientists were using cow urine and dung in missile development under government direction. The post used derogatory language and criticized India’s scientific community.
To verify the claim, we searched relevant keywords on Google but found no credible media reports supporting such statements by the DRDO chief. We then extracted keyframes from the viral clip and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. This led us to the original video posted by ANI on April 30, 2026. The footage is from the National Security Summit 2.0, where Dr. Kamat spoke about India’s missile development programs.
In the authentic video, Dr. Kamat discusses short-range ballistic missiles like ‘Pralay’, and advancements in hypersonic glide and cruise missile technologies, including scramjet propulsion. There is no mention of cow urine, cow dung, or any such practices.
Further analysis using AI detection tool Aurigin indicated an 88% probability that the viral video was AI-generated or manipulated.
Conclusion
Our research confirms that the viral video is fake and AI-manipulated. Dr. Samir V. Kamat never made any statement about washing missiles with cow urine. The clip is a deepfake created to spread misinformation and mislead viewers.
A purported news clip circulating on social media claims that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) purchased Bhupen Bora, a leader of the Indian National Congress, for ₹50 crore as part of a political deal in Assam. The viral clip further alleges that the transaction took place under the leadership of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and included an agreement to induct several Congress leaders into the BJP.
However, research by CyberPeace found the viral claim to be false and revealed that the original news video had been manipulated using AI and shared with misleading claims.
Claim
On February 18, 2026, a user shared the viral video on Facebook, claiming that the Assam BJP had bought a Congress leader who had lost the last three elections for ₹50 crore, and that the alleged deal led by Himanta Biswa Sarma had drawn public criticism.
To verify the authenticity of the claim, we extracted key frames from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the research, we found the original version of the video published on the website of Aaj Tak on February 16, 2026. In the original report, the anchor is only seen reporting on Bhupen Bora’s resignation from the party. The report does not mention any alleged financial transaction or political deal, contrary to the claims made in the viral clip.
In the next stage of the research, the viral video was analysed using the AI detection tool AURGIN AI, which identified the video as AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research found that users had manipulated the original news broadcast using AI and shared it with misleading claims. The viral clip does not show any real financial deal between Bhupen Bora and the Assam Chief Minister.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has directed all telcos to set up detection systems based on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) technologies in order to identify and control spam calls and text messages from unregistered telemarketers (UTMs).
The TRAI Directed telcos
The telecom regulator, TRAI, has directed all Access Providers to detect Unsolicited commercial communication (UCC)by systems, which is based on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to detect, identify, and act against senders of Commercial Communication who are not registered in accordance with the provisions of the Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 (TCCCPR-2018). Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) are entities that do not register with Access Providers and use 10-digit mobile numbers to send commercial communications via SMS or calls.
TRAI steps to curb Unsolicited commercial communication
TRAI has taken several initiatives to reduce Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC), which is a major source of annoyance for the public. It has resulted in fewer complaints filed against Registered Telemarketers (RTMs). Despite the TSPs’ efforts, UCC from Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) continues. Sometimes, these UTMs use messages with bogus URLs and phone numbers to trick clients into revealing crucial information, leading to financial loss.
To detect, identify, and prosecute all Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs), the TRAI has mandated that Access Service Providers implement the UCC.
Detect the System with the necessary functionalities within the TRAI’s Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulations, 2018 framework.
Access service providers have implemented such detection systems based on their applicability and practicality. However, because UTMs are constantly creating new strategies for sending unwanted communications, the present UCC detection systems provided by Access Service providers cannot detect such UCC.
TRAI also Directs Telecom Providers to Set Up Digital Platform for Customer Consent to Curb Promotional Calls and Messages.
Unregistered Telemarketers (UTMs) sometimes use messages with fake URLs and phone numbers to trick customers into revealing essential information, resulting in financial loss.
TRAI has urged businesses like banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, and others to re-verify their SMS content templates with telcos within two weeks. It also directed telecom companies to stop misusing commercial messaging templates within the next 45 days.
The telecom regulator has also instructed operators to limit the number of variables in a content template to three. However, if any business intends to utilise more than three variables in a content template for communicating with their users, this should be permitted only after examining the example message, as well as adequate justifications and justification.
In order to ensure consistency in UCC Detect System implementations, TRAI has directed all Access Providers to deploy UCC and detect systems based on artificial intelligence and Machine Learning that are capable of constantly evolving to deal with new signatures, patterns, and techniques used by UTMs.
Access Providers have also been directed to use the DLT platform to share intelligence with others. Access Providers have also been asked to ensure that such UCC Detect System detects senders that send unsolicited commercial communications in bulk and do not comply with the requirements. All Access Providers are directed to follow the instructions and provide an update on actions done within thirty days.
The move by TRAI is to curb the menacing calls as due to this, the number of scam cases is increasing, and now a new trend of scams started as recently, a Twitter user reported receiving an automated call from +91 96681 9555 with the message “This call is from Delhi Police.” It then asked her to stay in the queue since some of her documents needed to be picked up. Then he said he works as a sub-inspector at the Kirti Nagar police station in New Delhi. He then inquired whether she had recently misplaced her Aadhaar card, PAN card, or ATM card, to which she replied ‘no’. The scammer then poses as a cop and requests that she authenticate the last four digits of her card because they have found a card with her name on it. And a lot of other people tweeted about it.
Conclusion
TRAI directed the telcos to check the calls and messages from Unregistered numbers. This step of TRAI will curb the pesky calls and messages and catch the Frauds who are not registered with the regulation. Sometimes the unregistered sender sends fraudulent links, and through these fraudulent calls and messages, the sender tries to take the personal information of the customers, which results in financial losses.
Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving the United States, Israel and Iran, a video is being widely circulated on social media with the claim that Iran attacked the headquarters of tech giants Apple and Microsoft in Israel. The clip shows a building engulfed in flames, with firefighters attempting to douse the fire. However, research by the CyberPeace found that the viral video is AI-generated and is being falsely linked to the ongoing conflict to spread misinformation.
Claim:
An Instagram user ‘bharat_updatenews’ shared the video on March 19, 2026, claiming that Iran had launched an attack on major tech company headquarters, including Apple and Microsoft, in Israel. The post suggested that the incident had raised serious security concerns and was being widely reported by international media.
To verify the claim, we extracted keyframes from the viral video and conducted a reverse search using Google Lens. During this process, we found the same video on a TikTok account named ‘dailyupdate122’, where it had been uploaded on March 15, 2026.
The video on this account was clearly labelled as “AI-generated media.” The account also featured several other AI-generated videos, raising doubts about the authenticity of the viral clip. Following this, we analysed the video using the AI detection tool Hive Moderation. The results indicated that the video is nearly 100 percent AI-generated. The tool further suggested with over 98 percent probability that the clip may have been created using OpenAI’s Sora or a similar AI video generation model.
Conclusion:
The viral claim that Iran attacked Apple and Microsoft headquarters in Israel is false. The video circulating online is AI-generated and has no connection to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
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