FIR filed against Prashant Bhushan for sharing fake video of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

Delhi Police"s Special Cell has registered an FIR against Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan for allegedly sharing an AI-manipulated video falsely showing Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticising India. The case was registered on November 3, after the MEA and the Russian Embassy publicly rejected the authenticity of the clip.

NewsBharati    04-Nov-2026 13:04:07 PM
Total Views |
Delhi Police has registered an FIR against Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan over the circulation of a digitally manipulated video of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which falsely portrayed him as criticising India over its internal affairs and purchase of Russian oil.
 
Prashant Bhushan
(Prashant Bhushan has been booked by Delhi police for sharing fake video on social media affecting India-Russia ties, Image: OpIndia)
 
According to the details of the case, the Delhi Police Special Cell registered FIR No. 263/26 on November 3, 2026, following inputs received during routine cyber patrolling.
 
The police reportedly took note of a post by the X account @thequotesnews, which flagged that the doctored video had been shared from Bhushan's account.
 
 
The case has been registered at the Special Cell Police Station, with the IFSO unit also involved. Bhushan has been named as the accused in the FIR.
 
The police have invoked Sections 336(4), 353(1)(c), 356 and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 66C of the Information Technology Act.
 
What was the fake video?
 
On or around November 3, Bhushan shared a video on X that purportedly showed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov making critical remarks about India during an interaction linked to the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
 
Bhushan accompanied the clip with the caption: “A tight slap by the Russian Foreign Minister on India. What kind of advice was Jaishankar giving to Russia?”
 
The post presented the purported remarks as criticism of India's domestic affairs and its decision to purchase Russian oil.
 
However, the Ministry of External Affairs' Fact Check unit rejected the video, issuing a clear warning on X: “Fake Alert!!! The video of the Russian Foreign Minister being used in this post is fake!”
 
 
The Russian Embassy in New Delhi also dismissed the content as AI-generated fake material concerning India-Russia relations and urged social media users not to circulate such clips.
 
 
Independent fact-checks traced the original footage to Lavrov's press conference following the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta, around October 30. The critical remarks attributed to him about India were found to be fabricated through altered audio and captions.
 
Sections invoked in the FIR
 
The FIR invokes multiple provisions relating to the alleged creation and circulation of fabricated electronic content.
These include:
 
• BNS Section 336(4): Relates to forgery involving electronic records.
• BNS Section 353(1)(c): Relates to statements that may cause public mischief.
• BNS Section 356: Deals with defamation.
• BNS Section 340(2): Relates to using a forged document or electronic record as genuine.
• IT Act Section 66C: Deals with identity theft through the dishonest use of another person's electronic signature, password or other unique identification feature.
 
According to the police assessment cited in reports, the video was misleading, defamatory and potentially inflammatory, with the possibility of spreading rumours and disturbing public order.
 
India-Russia diplomatic ties at the centre of controversy
 
The controversy emerged shortly after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
 
The fabricated video sought to portray a disagreement between the Russian Foreign Minister and India's position on domestic affairs and energy purchases. Its circulation prompted a response from both the Indian government and the Russian diplomatic mission in New Delhi.
 
The MEA's public fact-check and the Russian Embassy's warning left no ambiguity about their position on the clip: the video was not authentic.
 
The Delhi Police investigation is ongoing. No arrest had been reported in the available information at the time of writing.