Claim: A viral video shows Upendra Dwivedi saying India shared the location of an Iranian naval ship with Israel, which later led to the ship being targeted.
Verdict: False. The video is an AI-generated deepfake. India’s official fact-check unit confirmed that the Army Chief made no such statement.
What’s the story?
A 57-second video circulating on social media appears to show India’s Chief of Army Staff claiming that India informed Israel about the location of an Iranian naval ship after it left Indian waters.
In the clip, the Army Chief seemingly says that since Israel was a strategic ally, it was India’s “duty” to provide the ship’s location. The video quickly spread across social media, with some posts accusing India of betraying Iran.
However, the claim was flagged as misinformation by the government.
What Factcheck India Found?
1. Government fact-check confirms it’s a deepfake
India’s Press Information Bureau fact-check unit stated that the viral clip is a digitally manipulated AI video and warned users not to be misled. The agency clarified that General Dwivedi never made such remarks.
2. Video traced to a real interview that was altered
Fact-checkers traced the footage to a genuine interview from the Raisina Dialogue 2026, where the Army Chief spoke about military strategy and global security issues. The original video contains no reference to Iran, Israel, or sharing naval intelligence.
3. AI detection tools flagged manipulation
Independent verification using AI detection tools showed a very high probability that the audio and visuals were AI-generated or altered, confirming that the speech in the viral clip was fabricated.
4. Propaganda accounts amplified the video
Officials said the manipulated clip was initially circulated by propaganda accounts online to create a misleading narrative about India’s role in the West Asia conflict.
Conclusion
The viral video showing Gen Upendra Dwivedi allegedly admitting India shared an Iranian ship’s location with Israel is fake. It is an AI-generated deepfake created from an edited clip of a real interview, and the Indian government has confirmed that the Army Chief never made such a statement.