#FactCheck-Video falsely links Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai to party dance clip; actually shows content creator’s father
Executive Summary
A video circulating on social media claims to show the Deputy Chief of Army Staff and former DGMO of the Indian Army, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, dancing with a young woman at a party. Users sharing the clip further allege that other junior military officers were also present at the event. CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be misleading. The viral video has no connection with the Indian Army, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai, or any official military function. The person seen in the video is actually the father of content creator Akanksha Sehgal, who has featured him in multiple videos on her social media accounts.
Claim:
A Pakistani handle ‘Baba Thoka’ shared the video on X, alleging that Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai was seen dancing with young women at a party and that junior officers were also present.
- https://x.com/ThokaReturns/status/2068069535715147896?s=20
- https://archive.ph/H9EA0
Fact Check:
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led to the same clip being found on Instagram handle ‘akku_sehgal_’, posted on December 14, 2025. The video caption read: “POV – when your dad and your music taste match.”
Further examination of the content creator Akanksha Sehgal’s Instagram profile showed multiple videos featuring the same father-daughter duo, confirming that the man in the viral clip frequently appears in her content.
Conclusion:
The viral video claiming to show Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai dancing at a party is misleading. The individual seen in the video is not the senior Indian Army officer but the father of content creator Akanksha Sehgal.
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Introduction
When a tragedy strikes, moments are fragile, people are vulnerable, emotions run high, and every second is important. In such critical situations, information becomes as crucial as food, water, shelter, and medication. As soon as any information is received, it often leads to stampedes and chaos. Alongside the tragedy, whether natural or man-made, emerges another threat: misinformation. People, desperate for answers, cling to whatever they can find.
Tragedies can take many forms. These may include natural disasters, mass accidents, terrorist activities, or other emergencies. During the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey, misinformation spread on social media claiming that the Yarseli Dam had cracked and was about to burst. People believed it and began migrating from the area. Panic followed, and search and rescue teams stopped operations in that zone. Precious hours were lost. Later, it was confirmed to be a rumour. By then, the damage was already done.
Similarly, after the recent plane crash in Ahmedabad, India, numerous rumours and WhatsApp messages spread rapidly. One message claimed to contain the investigation report on the crash of Air India flight AI-171. It was later called out by PIB and declared fake.
These examples show how misinformation can take control of already painful moments. During emergencies, when emotions are intense and fear is widespread, false information spreads faster and hits harder. Some people share it unknowingly, while others do so to gain attention or push a certain agenda. But for those already in distress, the effect is often the same. It brings ore confusion, heightens anxiety, and adds to their suffering.
Understanding Disasters and the Role of Media in Crisis
Disaster can be defined as a natural or human-caused situation that causes a transformation from a usual life of society into a crisis that is far beyond its existing response capacity. It can have minimal or maximum effects, from mere disruption in daily life practices to as adverse as inability to meet basic requirements of life like food, water and shelter. Hence, the disaster is not just a sudden event. It becomes a disaster when it overwhelms a community’s ability to cope with it.
To cope with such situations, there is an organised approach called Disaster Management. It includes preventive measures, minimising damages and helping communities recover. Earlier, public institutions like governments used to be the main actors in disaster management, but today, with every small entity having a role, academic institutions, media outlets and even ordinary people are involved.
Communication is an important element in disaster management. It saves lives when done correctly. People who are vulnerable need to know what’s happening, what they should do and where to seek help. It involves risk in today’s instantaneous communication.
Research shows that the media often fails to focus on disaster preparedness. For example, studies found that during the 2019 Istanbul earthquake, the media focused more on dramatic scenes than on educating people. Similar trends were seen during the 2023 Turkey earthquakes. Rather than helping people prepare or stay calm, much of the media coverage amplified fear and sensationalised suffering. This shows a shift from preventive, helpful reporting to reactive, emotional storytelling. In doing so, the media sometimes fails in its duty to support resilience and worse, can become a channel for spreading misinformation during already traumatic events. However, fighting misinformation is not just someone’s liability. It is penalised in the official disaster management strategy. Section 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 mentions that "Whoever makes or circulates a false alarm or warning as to disaster or its severity or magnitude, leading to panic, shall, on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with a fine."
AI as a Tool in Countering Misinformation
AI has emerged as a powerful mechanism to fight against misinformation. AI technologies like Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) are effective in spotting and classifying misinformation with up to 97% accuracy. AI flags unverified content, leading to a 24% decrease in shares and 7% drop in likes on platforms like TikTok. Up to 95% fewer people view content on Facebook when fact-checking labels are used. Facebook AI also eliminates 86% of graphic violence, 96% of adult nudity, 98.5% of fake accounts and 99.5% of content related to terrorism. These tools help rebuild public trust in addition to limiting the dissemination of harmful content. In 2023, support for tech companies acting to combat misinformation rose to 65%, indicating a positive change in public expectations and awareness.
How to Counter Misinformation
Experts should step up in such situations. Social media has allowed many so-called experts to spread fake information without any real knowledge, research, or qualification. In such conditions, real experts such as authorities, doctors, scientists, public health officials, researchers, etc., need to take charge. They can directly address the myths and false claims and stop misinformation before it spreads further and reduce confusion.
Responsible journalism is crucial during crises. In times of panic, people look at the media for guidance. Hence, it is important to fact-check every detail before publishing. Reporting that is based on unclear tips, social media posts, or rumours can cause major harm by inciting mistrust, fear, or even dangerous behaviour. Cross-checking information, depending on reliable sources and promptly fixing errors are all components of responsible journalism. Protecting the public is more important than merely disseminating the news.
Focus on accuracy rather than speed. News spreads in a blink in today's world. Media outlets and influencers often come under pressure to publish it first. But in tragic situations like natural disasters and disease outbreaks, rushing to come first is not as important as accuracy is, as a single piece of misinformation can spark mass-scale panic and can slow down emergency efforts and lead people to make rash decisions. Taking a little more time to check the facts ensures that the information being shared is helpful, not harmful. Accuracy may save numerous lives during tragedies.
Misinformation spreads quickly it can only be prevented if people learn to critically evaluate what they hear and see. This entails being able to spot biased or deceptive headlines, cross-check claims and identify reliable sources. Digital literacy is of utmost importance; it makes people less susceptible to fear-based rumours, conspiracy theories and hoaxes.
Disaster preparedness programs should include awareness about the risks of spreading unverified information. Communities, schools and media platforms must educate people on how to respond responsibly during emergencies by staying calm, checking facts and sharing only credible updates. Spreading fake alerts or panic-inducing messages during a crisis is not only dangerous, but it can also have legal consequences. Public communication must focus on promoting trust, calm and clarity. When people understand the weight their words can carry during a crisis, they become part of the solution, not the problem.
References:
- https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/3556152
- https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/SMWG_Countering-False-Info-Social-Media-Disasters-Emergencies_Mar2018-508.pdf
- https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/fake-whatsapp-message-air-india-crash-pib-fact-check-fcwmvuyc
- https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/SMWG_Countering-False-Info-Social-Media-Disasters-Emergencies_Mar2018-508.pdf
Executive Summary
A picture of Mohan Bhagwat is going viral on social media, showing him allegedly laying the foundation stone of a so-called “52nd Shakti Peeth” named Bharatdurga. Users are claiming that the RSS chief insulted Sanatan Dharma by creating a new Shakti Peeth in Nagpur. Research by CyberPeace Research Wing found that the claim is false. The viral image is AI-generated, and Mohan Bhagwat did not inaugurate any “52nd Shakti Peeth.” In reality, he laid the foundation stone of the Bharatdurga Temple.
Claim
An X user named Sandeep Dev shared the viral image and alleged that after creating “fake Shankaracharyas,” the RSS had now introduced a new form of Goddess Durga called “Bharat Durga” and declared it the 52nd Shakti Peeth. The post further claimed that the RSS was redefining Hinduism and creating new religious sites.
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we searched relevant keywords and found reports published on April 24, 2026, by India TV and Navbharat Times. According to these reports, Mohan Bhagwat laid the foundation stone of the world’s first Bharatdurga Temple in Nagpur during a ceremony organized at the Jamtha campus of Dr. Abaji Thatte Seva and Research Institute. Several prominent saints and religious leaders attended the event. Importantly, none of the reports described the temple as the “52nd Shakti Peeth.”
Further research led us to the full video of the foundation ceremony uploaded on the YouTube channel of Devendra Fadnavis. The stage backdrop and video thumbnail clearly mention “Bharatdurga Temple Foundation Ceremony.” However, the viral image frame was not visible anywhere in the authentic footage.
We also analyzed the viral image using AI detection tools, which indicated that the image was AI-generated.
Conclusion
Our research confirms that the claim about Mohan Bhagwat laying the foundation of a “52nd Shakti Peeth” is false. The viral image is AI-generated. In reality, he participated in the foundation ceremony of the Bharatdurga Temple in Nagpur.
Executive Summary
Several social media users shared an India Today news clipping showing an exclusive interaction between senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai and Bangladeshi journalist Mahfuz Anam. In the purported conversation, Anam was heard claiming that India’s intelligence agency RAW was trying to prevent Bangladesh from joining the Mecca Pact. He was also allegedly heard saying that New Delhi was promoting an alternative defence pact with Bangladesh involving a Middle Eastern country and Israel. However, the CyberPeace Research Wing found that the viral video had been digitally manipulated using AI-generated audio. The original video, uploaded by India Today, showed Anam in conversation with Sardesai in 2024, discussing Bangladesh’s July uprising and the developments that followed.
Claim
A Facebook page, ‘MatriX MojtabA’, shared an India Today news clipping on August 12 showing senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai interviewing Bangladeshi journalist Mahfuz Anam. In the purported conversation, Anam was heard saying that RAW was trying to prevent Bangladesh from joining the Mecca Pact. He was also allegedly heard claiming that New Delhi was promoting an alternative defence pact with Bangladesh involving a Middle Eastern country and Israel.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1804199927691664/
Fact Check
Based on the clue that the viral clip was taken from an exclusive conversation between Mahfuz Anam and India Today, the Desk conducted a customised keyword search on Google. The search led to an extended version of the same interaction uploaded on India Today’s official YouTube channel. The Desk identified the original footage by comparing the background setting and the clothes worn by both Sardesai and Anam, which appeared identical in the viral and original clips. However, an analysis of the original video established that it was an old recording from August 2024. The video showed Anam and Sardesai discussing Bangladesh’s July 2024 uprising and the developments that followed. The Desk analysed the complete 14-minute-and-three-second video and found that Anam did not mention RAW or the Mecca Pact anywhere in the interaction. The Mecca Pact was signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey on August 7, 2026. This established that the statement attributed to Anam in the viral video was not part of the original conversation and had been digitally manipulated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEoyTkOZ8xE
Further, after finding indications that the audio in the viral clip may have been AI-generated, the Desk extracted the audio from the video and analysed it using Resemble AI, an AI audio detection tool. The analysis indicated that the audio was AI-generated and did not contain Mahfuz Anam’s original statement.
Conclusion
The viral video showing Bangladeshi journalist Mahfuz Anam purportedly claiming that India’s RAW was trying to prevent Bangladesh from joining the Mecca Pact is digitally manipulated. The audio in the viral clip was replaced with AI-generated audio to attribute a false statement to Anam. The original India Today video, recorded in 2024, shows Anam speaking with Rajdeep Sardesai about Bangladesh’s July uprising and the developments that followed. He does not make any remarks about RAW, the Mecca Pact or an alternative defence pact involving India, a Middle Eastern country and Israel.
