The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday questioned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) Managing Director S. Visakan at its Nungambakkam office, a day after conducting extensive searches at his residence and other premises in connection with the alleged liquor scam.
Visakan, a senior IAS officer, was summoned to the ED office on Saturday following a long round of interrogation at his residence in Manapakkam on Friday. His wife was also questioned on Friday evening. Meanwhile, ED officials resumed their search at Visakan’s Manapakkam residence on Saturday, marking the second consecutive day of raids. The ongoing searches are being conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED’s probe has widened to cover approximately 10 locations in and around Chennai. These include properties linked to senior TASMAC officials and liquor contractors, as well as entities that had received government contracts. Among those under the scanner is Akash Baskaran, a film producer associated with Dawn Pictures, and a tech firm reportedly awarded contracts by the Tamil Nadu government.
Officials said the coordinated action is based on intelligence inputs and financial transaction trails suggesting irregularities involving the alleged diversion of government funds through shell firms and benami entities. The involvement of TASMAC – a government-run enterprise that holds a monopoly over liquor sales in the state – has raised concerns over potential misuse of public resources. S. Visakan’s role as TASMAC MD during the period under scrutiny is seen as significant by the agency.
Sources said financial records, digital evidence, and statements of key individuals are being closely examined to determine the extent of wrongdoing. The ED has not yet issued an official statement detailing the nature or scope of the allegations. However, officials confirmed that further rounds of questioning and forensic scrutiny of seized documents are expected in the coming days as the probe progresses.
-IANS
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
In response to the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April, which targeted Indian civilians based on their religious identity India launched precise retaliatory strikes on terrorist training sites located in areas such as Muridke and Bahawalpur on 7 May 2025.
This marked the beginning of Operation Sindoor, a robust military initiative targeting terror infrastructure sheltered within Pakistani territory. Following India’s offensive, Pakistan retaliated with a series of drone and missile assaults aimed at Indian military installations and civilian areas.
India’s second phase of retaliation has since been recognized as a landmark event in the military history of South Asia—an audacious and highly coordinated counter-strike between two nuclear-armed adversaries. According to multiple sources involved in the mission, whose identities remain confidential due to the sensitivity of the ongoing operation, the events unfolded dramatically.
During the night of 9 to 10 May, the Indian Air Force (IAF), in coordination with other branches of the military, carried out a sweeping aerial campaign that struck 11 out of 12 major Pakistani air bases across the country. This offensive significantly compromised Pakistan’s air defense systems, many of which were built with Chinese support.
The main weapons used in these attacks were BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles and Scalp missiles launched from Rafale jets. These high-precision weapons caused substantial damage to Pakistani air capabilities, catching their military completely off guard.
Around 15 BrahMos missiles were reportedly used to disable airfields critical to Pakistan’s ability to conduct aerial operations, according to defence sources cited by ANI. The operation began with the deployment of unmanned aerial targets, designed to mimic real fighter aircraft on enemy radars. These decoys successfully triggered Pakistan’s air defense systems.
Once Pakistan’s radar and air defense systems were activated, Indian forces launched loitering munitions, including Israeli Harop drones, to strike these activated systems and their command and control centers.
Pakistan’s response included relocating its HQ-9 missile batteries and radars to alternative locations in an attempt to shield them, but these too were detected and subsequently targeted. The IAF then proceeded with its long-range missile offensive, deploying BrahMos, Scalp, Rampage, and Crystal Maze missiles.
These operations were coordinated from India’s Western and Southwestern Air Commands. On the defensive side, India successfully intercepted most Pakistani missile and drone attacks using a layered missile defense system comprising Russian-made S-400s, MRSAMs, Akash missiles, and other legacy systems.
Following the damage to their bases, the Pakistan Air Force was compelled to move its aircraft to safer rear bases. Reports suggest that Pakistan may have lost several high-value assets, including long-endurance drones and an airborne early warning and control aircraft that was struck while inside a hangar in Sindh.
This operation also marked the first live combat use of the BrahMos missile system, underscoring its formidable capabilities. Sources further revealed that the scale and precision of India’s strikes forced Pakistan into a defensive posture, prompting them to seek immediate Director General of Military Operations (DGMO)-level talks to negotiate a ceasefire and de-escalation agreement.
In a shocking turn of events, travel blogger and YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested by the Civil Lines police in Hisar on 17 May 2025, facing accusations of espionage for Pakistan. She is alleged to have maintained regular communication with Pakistani intelligence agents, using platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat to share sensitive information.
Jyoti, who runs the YouTube channel Desi-Indo-Joe, had traveled to several countries, including Pakistan, as part of her activities. It is claimed that she was instructed by her handlers to present Pakistan in a positive light through her social media posts. During her questioning, Jyoti stated that she was chosen to join a delegation to Pakistan in 2023. According to the FIR, during her trip, she met a man named Ahsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, and stayed in touch with him after returning to India through various messaging apps. On a subsequent visit to Pakistan, recommended by Ahsan, she met another individual, Ali Ahsan, who introduced her to members of Pakistan’s intelligence and security agencies.
It was during this time that Jyoti allegedly began passing along sensitive information to her Pakistani contacts. She confessed to saving their numbers under false names, a tactic investigators believe was designed to hide her connections with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Officials have stated that her ongoing communication with these operatives is a violation of the Official Secrets Act, and poses a serious threat to national security.
According to CM Sarma, in Golaghat, at least 512.58 gram of narcotics were seized that have a international market value of ₹3 crore. Three persons were taken into custody by the police. Meanwhile, in a separate operation in Kokrajhar, police seized 963.19 kg of ganja, CM Sarma added. He also asserted that the operation against narcotics will continue in Assam. Earlier in the previous week, Assam Police seized drugs valued at ₹9.5 crore and arrested three peddlers, including a woman, in two separate operations.
An Assam Police spokesman said that based on credible intelligence regarding the transportation of contraband from Silchar (southern Assam) to Guwahati via the Silchar-Coimbatore Express train, a team from Panbazar police station was deployed at Guwahati Railway Station. A female suspect was identified and apprehended upon the train’s arrival, he added. Following due legal procedures and in the presence of independent witnesses, the search led to the recovery of 20,000 highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, valued at ₹5 crore, one mobile handset and ₹1,000 in cash.
The accused, identified as Parvina Khatun Bibi (31), has been taken into custody. The detainee is a resident of Sadialer Khuti village in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district. In another operation, the Assam Police had arrested two drug peddlers at Salchapra in Silchar in the state’s Cachar district, and seized 847 grams of heroin and 4.035 kg of opium from them. The total estimated value of the drugs is ₹4.5 crore. Police suspected that the drugs smuggled from Myanmar through Mizoram entered Assam through a clandestine route.
Myanmar, which shares a 1,643 km unfenced border with four northeastern states Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram serves as a key transit point for drugs, particularly heroin and methamphetamine tablets, entering India. Myanmar’s Chin State is a hub for smuggling of varied drugs, exotic wildlife animals and many other contraband through six Mizoram districts Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Hnahthial, Saitual and Serchhip.
-IANS
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two absconding operatives of the banned terrorist outfit ISIS, who were part of a sleeper module involved in the fabrication and testing of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Pune, Maharashtra. The arrests were made in connection with a 2023 terror conspiracy case.
The accused, Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh alias Diaperwala, and Talha Khan, were intercepted at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport Terminal 2 by the Bureau of Immigration. The duo had been hiding in Jakarta, Indonesia, and were taken into custody by the NIA upon arrival in India.
According to the NIA, the two had been on the run for over two years and were wanted in connection with Case RC-05/2023/NIA/MUM. Non-bailable warrants had been issued against them by the NIA Special Court in Mumbai, and a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh each was announced for information leading to their arrest.
The NIA said the case pertains to a larger conspiracy by ten individuals, including the two recently arrested, to carry out terrorist activities and wage war against the Government of India. “They had conspired to commit terrorist acts with the aim to disturb India’s peace and communal harmony by waging a war against the Government of India in furtherance of the ISIS agenda to establish Islamic rule in the country through violence and terror,” the agency stated.
Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh had rented a house in Kondhwa, Pune, which was used as a hub for assembling IEDs. The NIA said that during 2022 and 2023, the accused not only fabricated IEDs but also conducted training workshops in bomb making and even carried out a controlled explosion to test one of their devices. The investigative agency, which has been actively working to dismantle ISIS-linked networks operating in India, had previously filed a chargesheet against all ten accused under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code.
In addition to Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh and Talha Khan, the other eight accused currently in judicial custody include Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, Simab Nasiruddin Kazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Shamil Nachan, Akif Nachan, and Shahnawaz Alam. The NIA said that investigations in the case are ongoing.
-IANS
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
Renowned Pakistani doctor Sheikh Ahmad Mahmood, belonging to the minority Ahmadiyya community, was shot inside Sargodha’s Fatima Hospital in the Punjab province by extremist elements because of his faith, according to local media reports.
The police report stated that the gunman, on Friday, arrived at the hospital dressed in the uniform of “Clean Punjab Program” staff, approached the deceased and shot him two times in the back while saying: “I won’t spare you today, Mahmood,” critically damaging his internal organs. The doctor was taken to the District Headquarters Teaching Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The attacker fled the scene after the fatal shooting with another person who arrived on a motorcycle.
In a press release issued by the Ahmadiyya community, the doctor had been receiving threats for some time from extremist elements because of his faith, and they were forcing him to change the location of his job. “He was a very charitable person and had no enmity with anyone,” the Ahmadiyya community spokesperson said about the deceased, who was killed because of his faith. According to the community, this was the third Ahmadiyya to be targeted in the past month. “The sudden increase in the continuous target killing of Ahmadis due to differences in faith indicates a systematic wave. This is increasing the sense of insecurity among Ahmadis. This requires immediate attention and effective measures from the law enforcement agencies. The continuous increase in hate incidents against Ahmadis is condemnable. The higher authorities should take notice of these incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice according to the law,” the statement read.
The spokesperson alleged that extremist elements were functioning against Ahmadiyya in Sargodha as well as in other areas, with frivolous cases being registered against them, and hate speeches were made to prevent the community from observing their religious rituals. Reports suggested that last month, a 46-year-old businessman was lynched when a few hundred supporters of a religio-political party stormed a place of worship belonging to the Ahmadiyya community in Karachi’s Saddar area to prevent them from performing religious rituals.
In March, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, in a report titled ‘Under Siege: Freedom of Religion or Belief in 2023-24‘, revealed that freedom of religion or belief remains under constant threat in Pakistan, with religiously motivated violence and discrimination increasing yearly. The report cited an increasing trend of mob-led attacks on the homes of families belonging to religious minorities, as well as their places of worship.
-IANS
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
Since its launch in 2015 by Siddharth Varadarajan, The Wire—widely viewed as an ideologically-driven, far-left media outlet—has faced repeated criticism for promoting anti-India and anti-Hindutva. Over the years, it has developed a reputation not for neutral journalism but for pushing agenda-driven content, often laced with exaggeration, misinformation, or selective reporting that aligns with its ideological stance. Critics argue it behaves more like a propaganda platform than an independent news organization.
Against this backdrop, it becomes essential to expose how The Wire subtly distorts original news stories—tweaking language, omitting facts, or selectively quoting sources—to reshape narratives for international consumption. These manipulations are often picked up by sympathetic global outlets, feeding a broader anti-India media ecosystem abroad that damages India’s reputation on the world stage.
This report compiles 34 documented cases between 2019 and 2025, highlighting how The Wire has either published fake news, misrepresented facts, or defended individuals with controversial or anti-national links. These cases offer clear evidence of a pattern of disinformation targeting Hindus, Indian institutions, and the current government, while often portraying extremist or separatist voices in a favorable light. In several instances, The Wire itself was forced to retract or correct its reporting after being called out.
Fake Propaganda Timeline by The Wire
Fake News #1: False Report on IAF Rafale Jet
On 8 May 2025, The Wire published an article with the sensational headline, “CNN Cites French Intelligence Official Confirming IAF Rafale Was Downed By Pakistan.” The story falsely claimed that a senior French intelligence official had informed CNN that Pakistan had successfully shot down an Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale jet during recent hostilities.
This claim was completely false. It was swiftly debunked by both independent fact-checkers and the Government of India. The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit confirmed that no such incident took place, labeling the report as part of a misinformation campaign. The government clarified that Pakistan’s claims lacked any credible evidence and were purely aimed at discrediting the Indian Air Force.
Fake News #2: Misrepresentation of Eyewitness Account on the Pahalgam Terror Attack
On 22 April 2025, The Wire published a report about the Pahalgam terror attack, authored by journalist Jehangir Ali. In the article, The Wiremisquoted an eyewitness, altering the context of her statement in a way that downplayed the targeted nature of the attack against Hindus.
The publication quoted the woman as saying, “I was eating bhelpuri with my husband when a man came and shot him. He said he was perhaps a Muslim and that is why he shot him.” This version implied the victim may have been attacked because he was Muslim.
The original video clip from the scene, which was widely circulated on social media, clearly showed the woman stating the opposite — she frantically mentioned that her husband was likely targeted because he was not a Muslim.
He was killed in front of his wife by terrorist because he was not muslim. Totally expecting some people to say "terrorism has no relation".#Pahalgampic.twitter.com/fbwQc2F6yh
Following widespread backlash online, The Wire later corrected the quote in the article. However, the initial misrepresentation led to accusations that the outlet was attempting to dilute the religious motive behind the terror attack and distort public perception. This case adds to the growing list of incidents where The Wire has been accused of manipulating sensitive narratives through selective or misleading reporting.
Fake News #3: Pushing Propaganda Claiming Only Indian Stock Market Crashed
On 6 March 2025, The Wire published a YouTube video claiming that India’s stock market was collapsing while global markets were reportedly thriving. The video described the situation as a “historic fall,” questioning how India could lose ₹83 lakh crore in market value when international markets were allegedly booming. It posed speculative questions about whether the drop was caused by flaws in government economic policies or profit-taking by foreign investors, citing falling indices like the NSE Nifty 50, SIP closures, and weakening investor confidence as signs of broader economic distress.
Why is India’s Market Crashing When Global Markets are Booming?
Continuous fall in NSE Nifty 50, closure of SIP accounts and wavering investor confidence – what do all these indicate for the Indian economy? @mkvenu1 explains
Contrary to The Wire’s narrative, India’s market decline was not an isolated event. A broader analysis of global financial trends showed that stock markets around the world — including the US, Europe, and Asia — were simultaneously experiencing downturns due to shared macroeconomic factors like inflation, tightening monetary policies, and geopolitical tensions. US stock markets alone reported trillions in losses, while Asian and European indices also faced significant drops. Commodities and investor sentiment were broadly affected.
Thus, portraying India’s stock market as uniquely crashing was misleading. The downturn was part of a global market correction, not a reflection of domestic economic failure alone. The Wire’s video omitted this critical context, leading to an imbalanced and alarmist portrayal of the situation.
In November 2024, The Wire claimed that 504,313 additional votes were counted in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, alleging a mismatch between the polled and counted votes. It suggested that the BJP’s victory resulted from manipulation and raised doubts about the constitutional bodies’ credibility.
However, Maharashtra’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) clarified that the total votes counted, including postal ballots, amounted to 6,45,92,508, which is consistent with the total votes polled. The valid postal ballots counted in the Ashti and Osmanabad Assembly constituencies were 4,538 and 4,155, respectively, and these do not constitute excess votes.
In October 2024, The Wire journalist M.K. Venu alleged that 19 lakh EVMs went missing during the Haryana Assembly elections and claimed that the Election Commission had not provided a satisfactory response to these allegations. However, this claim by Venu turned out to be false.
The Election Commission had already addressed these allegations in May 2019, explaining that the transportation of EVMs is managed through a secure Electronic Management System (EMS) that tracks EVMs in real-time. Only EVMs that have passed a First-Level Check and are logged into the system are used for polling. Furthermore, the Supreme Court dismissed similar claims regarding missing EVMs during the 2024 general elections, labeling them as baseless.
Regarding the story https://t.co/VzxlkMebno & news reports,it is clarified that there is no truth in contention that "20 lakh EVMs are missing". The news report is based on inaccurate & specious misinterpretation of partial facts obtained frm RTI frm multiple Public Authorities
The Wire misrepresented data in its coverage of voter turnout in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It compared the total number of registered voters in constituencies that voted in the first five phases of the 2019 elections with the actual voter turnout in the same phases of 2024. This led to the incorrect claim that there was a significant drop of 19.4 crore voters. In reality, 48.5 crore voters participated in the first five phases of the 2019 elections, not 70 crore as The Wire suggested.
Once this error was exposed, The Wire revised the article, shifting the focus to the first phase of the 2024 elections. It now claimed a dip of 1.8 crore voters, but this conclusion was also flawed. The article was updated with a correction noting the earlier comparison was based on the total number of eligible voters from 2019, not actual turnout. The URL of the article was also changed to reflect this new narrative.
Original Title
Once this error was exposed, The Wire revised the article, shifting the focus to the first phase of the 2024 elections. It now claimed a dip of 1.8 crore voters, but this conclusion was also flawed. The article was updated with a correction noting the earlier comparison was based on the total number of eligible voters from 2019, not actual turnout. The URL of the article was also changed to reflect this new narrative.
Altered Title
Like always, they added a correction note at the bottom very silently but did not announce the changes anywhere.
So @thewire_in claimed there was a drop of 19cr+ voters in first five phases in 2024 compared to 2019 elections. Their @SravastiDasgup2 got confused between total voters number and votes polled. She used numbers from press releases published 2-3 days before polling date in 2019.… pic.twitter.com/Y4LL7Axa60
Fake News #7: Alleges That BJP Used App To Manipulate Trends
On 6 January 2024, The Wire published a report alleging that the BJP was using an app to manipulate trends and automatically generate online content. The report, based on an August 2020 tweet and some unnamed sources, claimed that the party was utilizing software called TekFog, supposedly led by BJP leader Devang Dave.
However, this claim contradicts a previous retraction by The Wire. On 23 October 2022, The Wire suspended its earlier story from January 2022 regarding TekFog, which Ayushman Kaul and Devesh Kumar had authored. In a statement, The Wire admitted that it was unable to verify the alleged capabilities of the app and did not have access to the actual software.
At that time, The Wire acknowledged that it was unclear whether the TekFog allegations would be examined in their internal investigation.
Fake News #8: India First In ‘Fake News’
On 2 March 2024, The Wire falsely claimed that India ranks first globally in “fake news.” In a video posted on The Wire’s YouTube channel, former NDTV anchor Priyanshi Sharma stated, “India is the number one country globally, not in GDP, employment, or health indicators, but in fake information.” She backed this claim by referencing the 19th edition of the Global Risk Report, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on 10 January 2024.
However, upon reviewing the source cited, it became clear that the report did not support Sharma’s assertions. The 124-page Global Risk Report 2024 does not claim that India leads in fake information. On page 8, the report highlights misinformation and disinformation as significant challenges for countries like Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, but it does not single out India as the top country in this regard.
Image Source: OpIndia
Fake News #9: Claimed Martyr Not Given Compensation
On 1 September 2023, The Wire published a report claiming that the family of martyred BSF jawan Ranjit Yadav had not received any compensation. The article was written by Yaqut Ali.
However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-checked and debunked this false claim. PIB clarified that Ranjit Yadav’s family, who was killed in action in Manipur, had already received a compensation of Rs 16 lakh under the ‘Golden Jubilee Seema Prahari Kalyan Kavach Yojana.’
-Family of late BSF Jawan received the entitled compensation from Golden Jubilee Seema Prahari Kalyan Kavach Yojana of ₹ 16 lakh pic.twitter.com/BJRpElliws
Despite the fact-check by PIB, The Wire continues to let the article stand published and has written, “The Wire stands by its report.” at the end of the article.
Fake News #10: Lies About Alleged Poster By Advocate Reg Selling Houses To Muslims
On 16 January 2023, The Wire published a report claiming that a poster had been put up in Delhi’s Brahmpuri urging Hindus not to sell their houses to Muslims. The article suggested that advocate Pradeep Sharma distributed the posters.
However, Advocate Sharma denied any involvement, stating that he was unaware of the poster’s contents and had no connection to it. He criticized the act of targeting someone on social media in such a manner, emphasizing that The Wire’s claims were not his words and that he had never given an interview for the report.
Fake News #11: The Wire Journo Arfa Sherwani Lies About Hindus
On 1 October 2022, The Wire journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani posted on her X handle, “Hindutva fascists are mocking, discouraging, threatening, and even beating up Muslims who are/want to participate in celebrations of Hindu festivals. They are destroying the last remnants of India and its composite culture.”
However, Sherwani’s statement misrepresents the situation. The truth is that in Garba pandals across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, several Muslim youths altered their identities to gain entry into the celebrations, where they reportedly molested Hindu girls. In response, Hindu organizations and local authorities took action to prevent such illegal activities by conducting investigations and stopping the infiltration.
Fake News #12: Lies About Army Killing Civilian In Kashmir
On 1 July 2022, The Wire published a report claiming that a three-year-old child had stated that the police shot his maternal grandfather, despite numerous instances where terrorists have been caught wearing police uniforms.
In reality, 65-year-old Bashir Ahmed Khan was killed by terrorists’ bullets. He was on his way to the market with his three-year-old grandson when the attack occurred. After being shot, Bashir Ahmed’s bloodied body collapsed on the road, with his grandson sitting on his deceased grandfather’s body.
The news surfaced on some social networking sites that the civilian was brought down and killed is totally baseless and is far beyond the facts, Sopore Police refutes and denies the news and legal action shall be initiated against the false reports and rumours @KashmirPolice
Fake News #13 : Spread Lies That Muslims Were Fleeing A Locality In Delhi Over Police Extortion
On 2 June 2022, The Wire published a report about the violence in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, citing local sources who claimed that members of the Muslim community were fleeing the area and that the police were harassing innocent Muslims to extort money.
However, a ground investigation by OpIndia revealed that these claims were false. In fact, the area where The Wire reported fear of displacement due to bulldozer activity was busy with the unloading of junk, and there was no indication of any official action or administrative presence. Additionally, activities were ongoing near the mosque, which had been identified by Hindu organizations as the starting point for stone pelting, and all nearby shops were open and functioning as usual.
Fake News #14: Uploads Fake Video & Instigates Violence
On 5 April 2022, The Wire published a video report about violence in Karauli, Rajasthan, which showed a young man hoisting a saffron flag on a mosque. The video suggested that this act triggered the violence in the area. However, it was later revealed that the video was not filmed in Rajasthan.
Once again The Wire is spreading fake propaganda in its biased report and they working to spread communal tension by using misinformation and lies. pic.twitter.com/j0PGBUo4rp
The District Magistrate (DM) of Karauli issued a statement confirming that the mosque shown in the video was not located in his district, calling the report fake news. The Wire was accused of attempting to incite Muslim sentiments with this false information.
Fake News #15: Blames BJP For “Targeting” Muslims
On 23 February 2022, The Wire shared an image claiming it was created by Hindutva groups in 2020. The image depicted the coronavirus riding on the shoulders of a Muslim man.
To add credibility to this insinuation, The Wire’s Siddharth Varadarajan cited a propaganda piece from Turkish state media, linking to an article by Werleman on TRT World from April 2020, which he referred to as a perspective from “several analysts.”
It is noteworthy that CJ Werleman’s X account is withheld in India.
However, The Wire appeared to align itself with an apologetic stance toward Islamist behavior, having previously spread Taliban propaganda. This seemed to be part of an effort to tarnish the image of Prime Minister Modi, the BJP, and its supporters, while promoting an anti-Hindu narrative.
Fake News #16: Fake News During Corona Pandemic About Covaxin
The Wire published several articles making false allegations against Bharat Biotech and its COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, particularly regarding its authorization and approvals, without verifying the facts.
On 23 February 2022, the Ranga Reddy District Court in Telangana ordered The Wire, a left-leaning news outlet, to remove 14 articles it had published against Bharat Biotech and Covaxin.
[BREAKING] In a 100 CRORE defamation case filed by BHARAT BIOTECH, Andhra Court ordered taking down of 14 articles on @thewire_in and restrained
The court clarified that Covaxin had been approved for the 15 to 18 age group, yet The Wire continued to publish misleading reports, which could contribute to vaccine hesitancy.
Fake News #17: Fake News On Immune Response Data For Covaxin
On 28 December 2021, The Wire published an article claiming that there was no available data on the immune response generated by Covaxin.
However, Bharat Biotech clarified that data on the immune response generated by Covaxin had been published in several reputable international peer-reviewed journals throughout 2020 and 2021.
Additionally, the company stated that the data regarding booster doses had already been submitted to the relevant authorities.
Fake News #18: Alleging That Spl Police Officers Were Joining Terrorist Groups Out Of Fear
On 28 June 2021, The Wire published a report titled “They Have Destroyed My Family,” alleging that in recent years, special police officers were leaving their posts and joining terrorist groups out of fear of terrorists.
In response, the Kashmir Police issued a statement debunking The Wire’s claims, labeling the report as completely false. The police emphasized that such allegations against security forces were being made without any factual basis or data to support them.
The Kashmir Police further accused The Wire of promoting a false agenda and issued a show-cause notice, seeking an explanation as to why a complaint should not be filed against the article with the Press Council of India.
Fake News #19: Lied About Mosque Demolished By Authorities
On 22 and 23 June 2021, The Wire released a video on its YouTube and Twitter platforms, falsely claiming that a mosque in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, was destroyed and desecrated by the authorities.
How a Mosque in UP's Barabanki Was Demolished.
Watch The Wire's ground report by @_serajali_ and @mukulschauhan in which they discuss the issue with the state administration as well as the members from the mosque committee and their lawyer.
The District Magistrate, Adarsh Singh, responded to the claims, stating that the documentary contained false and unfounded information. He specifically refuted the claim that the administration and police had thrown religious scriptures into a drain and river, calling it completely untrue.
Fake News #20: Spread Fake News About Elderly Muslim Man Being Beaten Up
On 16 June 2021, the Ghaziabad Police in Uttar Pradesh registered an FIR against The Wire for spreading misleading information on social media about an incident involving an elderly man being beaten.
The media outlet had circulated a false report claiming that a Muslim man, Abdul Samad Saifi, was attacked in Ghaziabad’s Loni area and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram.” The Ghaziabad Police filed an FIR under sections 153, 153-A, 295-A, 505, 120-B, and 34 of the IPC against the PS Loni Border police station in response to the false claims made by The Wire.
Fake News #21: Makes False Claim On Rajnath Singh And Ramcharitmanas, Silently Retracts It
The Wire claimed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during a video conference at a Ram Navami function in Lucknow, stated that the recitation of the Ramcharitmanas, an epic poem by Tulsidas, could cure COVID-19 by boosting positivity in individuals, adding that it could act as a remedy for major diseases.
A story posted on our website today wrongly claimed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said the Ramcharitmanas would help the fight against COVID-19.
The story was based on unverified reports from other news sources and has been withdrawn. pic.twitter.com/GDGXafDEz6
However, just hours after publishing the article on 24 April 2021, The Wire retracted the report on Twitter. In the tweet, they acknowledged that the story was based on unverified reports from other news sources and stated that the erroneous claim about Rajnath Singh had been withdrawn.
Fake News #22: Falsely Claims Digital Media Guidelines Retracted
The Wire falsely reported that a retired judge, selected by a panel from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), would head a self-regulatory body under the IT (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules. However, the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check debunked this claim. In reality, the self-regulatory body would be constituted by publishers, not MIB, and could be led by a retired Supreme Court or High Court judge or a person of eminence.
The Wire: A retired judge appointed from a panel prepared by @MIB_India will head the self-regulatory body under IT Rules#PIBFactCheck: Fake!
The body would be constituted by publishers & not MIB or a panel by MIB. It can be headed by a retired SC/HC judge or an eminent person pic.twitter.com/fb2HRlJFs5
Fake News #23: Omits Accused’s Islamist Identity In Suicide Case
In January 2021, a 25-year-old Dalit youth, Dharampal Diwakar, from Malwan, Uttar Pradesh, died by suicide after being beaten by two individuals, Noor Mohammad and Salman, for allegedly plucking leaves from their mango tree.
While the police arrested the accused, The Wire reported the incident without mentioning their religious identity, intentionally omitting it in the headline. In another report when the perpetrators were allegedly Hindu, they blamed “upper caste men” for the suicide.
The report instead downplayed the religious aspect of the crime committed by the Muslim accused.
Fake News #24: Published Fake Report On Safoora Zargar
Delhi Police criticized The Wire for publishing a misleading report regarding Safoora Zargar, a Delhi riots accused.
The report falsely claimed police and judicial bias against the Muslim community. On 15 May 2020, Delhi Police pointed out that the journalist had combined two separate FIRs with the same number, fabricating a narrative of bias and discrimination.
Fake News #25: Published Fake Report On Muslim Families
The Wire falsely reported that Muslim families living along the Punjab-Himachal border were being forced to live on riverbeds, deprived of food and water, after being beaten and chased from their homes.
In response, Hoshiarpur Police dismissed the allegations, providing evidence to disprove the claims and expose the propaganda.
Fake News #26:Made False Claims On Ram Navami And Tablighi Jamaat
On 31 March 2020, The Wire chief Siddharth Varadarajan tweeted in support of the Tablighi Jamaat, alleging that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had approved a fair in Ayodhya on Ram Navami and claimed that Lord Ram would protect everyone from the coronavirus.
In response, Yogi’s media advisor, Mrityunjay Kumar, refuted the claim, stating that the Chief Minister never made such a statement and warned of legal action and defamation for spreading false information.
हमारी चेतावनी के बावजूद इन्होंने अपने झूठ को ना डिलीट किया ना माफ़ी माँगी।
कार्यवाही की बात कही थी, FIR दर्ज हो चुकी है आगे की कार्यवाही की जा रही है।
अगर आप भी योगी सरकार के बारे में झूठ फैलाने के की सोच रहे है तो कृपया ऐसे ख़्याल दिमाग़ से निकाल दें। pic.twitter.com/1xPWWQVxGx
Fake News #27: Falsely Defended Muslim Rioters, Misidentifies School Ownership
On 5 March 2020, The Wire published misleading information to protect Muslim riot suspects in Delhi’s Shiv Vihar. They claimed that DRP School, which was set on fire during the riots, was a Muslim institution, while in reality, Pankaj Sharma, a Hindu, owned it.
Meanwhile, Rajdhani School, located next door, became a stronghold for rioters, with reports of stone pelting and violence emanating from it.
Fake News #28: Misled With False Claims About CAA
On 20 December 2019, The Wire published a misleading article suggesting that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would lead to the expulsion of Muslims from India, portraying them as illegal citizens without voting rights, destined for detention centers.
This false narrative claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah were behind these plans. However, Amit Shah clarified in an interview that implementing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would not be based on religion, and only infiltrators, regardless of their faith, would be removed from the country.
Fake News #29: Misrepresented Kashmir Student Clash as Communal
On 19 November 2019, The Wire published an article titled “Kashmiris called terrorists and thrashed by fellow students,” attempting to give a communal twist to a student clash.
However, a Kashmiri student, speaking anonymously, clarified that the altercation was not due to religious differences but because of resentment over their ability to get passes for outings. The students involved in the clash were also Muslims, contradicting The Wire’s portrayal of the incident as religiously motivated.
Fake News #30:Falsely Claimed No Newspapers In Kashmir Post-Article 370 Abrogation
On 26 August 2019, The Wire falsely claimed that no newspapers had been published in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, describing the situation as “worse than the Emergency of 1975-77.” However, journalist Ashok Srivastava from Doordarshan debunked this claim during a TV debate by presenting evidence of newspapers still being published and distributed in Kashmir. He showcased photos and copies of newspapers from the period around 18-19 August 2019, disproving The Wire’s narrative.
Fake News #31: Wire Journo Arfa Sherwani Misled On Gorakhpur Temple’s History
On 27 April 2019, The Wire journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani tweeted from Gorakhpur, claiming that the Math, led by Yogi Adityanath, was built on land donated by Muslim Nawab Asif-ud-Daula.
However, the Twitter handle True Indology fact-checked this claim, revealing that the temple is actually at least 800 years old, predating Nawab Asif-ud-Daula by 225 years. True Indology refuted Sherwani’s statement using references from historical texts and the Archaeological Survey of India.
Gorakhnath temple is much older than the Nawab. It was believed to be established by Gorakhnath himself.
Whatever the case, the temple was already destroyed by Khilji in 13th century,meaning it already existed by then
Fake News #32: Made False Claim About Kashmir Girls In Dehradun
On 17 February 2019, The Wire reported that a mob had threatened Kashmiri girls studying at a university in Dehradun, demanding they vacate their hostel. The article quoted one girl who allegedly appealed for help, fearing an attack.
However, despite responses from Dehradun Police and CRPF clarifying the situation, The Wire continued to spread the unverified rumor without naming any of the students or providing credible details, turning an unfounded claim into a reported fact.
Fake News #33: Made False Report On Kashmir Students Suspended For Celebrating Pulwama Attack
On 16 February 2019, The Wire published a report claiming that four Kashmiri girls were suspended by NIMS University in Rajasthan for allegedly celebrating the Pulwama attack and raising anti-national slogans. However, the truth reveals that the students gave similar responses to public outrage following the incident, which raised serious concerns about inciting sentiments.
Despite this, no appropriate action was taken to properly address the situation.
Fake News #34: Posts Misleading Report On Kashmiri Students Suspended After Pulwama Attack
On 15 February 2019, The Wire reported that two Kashmiri students were suspended and one was rusticated by colleges in Uttarakhand following the Pulwama attack. One of the students had posted a photo of Shoaib Lone, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant killed in an encounter, with a message glorifying his death: “Allah aapki shahadat qabool kare” (“May Allah accept your martyrdom”).
However, the report overlooks critical details, including the fact that the student’s actions led to significant backlash, and the students later issued apologies for their posts. This raises concerns about selective reporting and context omission.
The Wire has proven itself not as a platform for ‘independent journalism’ as it claims but as a deliberate purveyor of misinformation, repeatedly fabricating stories to fit an anti-Hindu and anti-India narrative. With a shameful track record riddled with retracted articles, baseless allegations, and debunked claims, it is evident that The Wire functions less as a news outlet and more as a propaganda machine for vested ideological interests and probably foreign forces. Its attempts to manipulate public perception by distorting facts are not just irresponsible but dangerous that has the potential to create unrest in the country.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
In an address to the Senate, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar cited what he believed was praise from the UK-based The Daily Telegraph, claiming the paper had described the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as the “undisputed king of the skies.” However, the page he quoted from turned out to be fake AI picture widely circulated on social media.
Pakistan Deputy PM Ishaq Dar went to the Pakistani Parliament with this fake image of The Daily Telegraph to claim victory over India. 🤣🤣🤣
In 2020, an ISI operative called me posing as The Daily Telegraph journalist to know about India’s build up in Ladakh post Galwan. I… pic.twitter.com/vXltePcWqn
The viral image, which began spreading around 10 May, purportedly showed a front page of The Daily Telegraph celebrating the PAF’s performance amid recent tensions with India. But a thorough investigation by Dawn newspaper’s iVerify Pakistan team debunked the claim. The team used verification tools to search the British publication’s official archives and found no such article existed.
Dawn pointed out several red flags in the supposed newspaper image: spelling mistakes such as “Fyaw” instead of “Force,” “preformance” in place of “performance,” and phrases like “Aur Force” and “advancemend,” none of which align with the editorial standards of a reputable outlet like The Daily Telegraph. Additionally, the page’s layout did not match the typical design used by the British paper.
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar falsely told the Senate that The Telegraph headlined the PAF as the ‘Undisputed King of the Skies’—a far-fetched claim that even Dawn News felt compelled to fact-check him. pic.twitter.com/piho3z9Zha
The image was not only proven fake by Dawn but also widely condemned by Pakistani journalists and fact-checkers. Journalist Imran Mukhtar from The Nation criticized Dar’s use of the false report in Parliament, stating that while the PAF may have had strong moments, the image was clearly fabricated. Another user on X (formerly Twitter), Abdul Wasey Naik, noted that many respected journalists had unknowingly shared the AI-generated image, assuming it to be genuine.
The incident comes in the wake of India’s recent Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist sites in Pakistan. In response, Pakistani state-linked accounts have ramped up disinformation efforts, circulating old visuals, doctored videos, and entirely made-up narratives in an apparent attempt to counter the operation’s impact and sway public perception.
This episode reflects a broader tactic in digital information warfare—flooding platforms with misleading or fake content to confuse audiences and manipulate narratives, making it increasingly difficult to discern fact from fiction..
Israeli drones carried out multiple airstrikes across southern Lebanon, killing a Hezbollah member and destroying several prefabricated structures, Lebanese security and official sources said. Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said on 15 May in a statement that an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle on the Arnoun-Yohmor road killed one person, Xinhua news agency reported. A Lebanese security source identified the victim as Mohammad Ali Marouni, a Hezbollah member from the town of Arnoun in the Nabatieh district, deep in southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanese official sources, three Hezbollah members have been killed and a fourth wounded in separate Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon over the past 48 hours. In a related incident, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli Apache helicopter carried out three consecutive strikes within half an hour on the village of Houla in southeastern Lebanon, targeting a prefabricated structure belonging to the Wataawano Association. The agency added that at dawn, the Israeli army struck another prefabricated building in the village of Adaisseh.
Separately, a drone dropped a stun grenade on a house in Kfar Kila, while another drone dropped a similar device over the ruins of al-Dhahira School in the western sector of southern Lebanon. The cross-border strikes come despite a ceasefire agreement reached on 27 November 2024, intended to halt more than a year of hostilities tied to the war in Gaza. An Israeli drone strike killed a Hezbollah member in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, targetting a vehicle near Qaaqaait al-Jisr in the Wadi al-Hujayr area, Lebanese security and official sources said.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported on Wednesday that “an enemy drone targeted a car at the entrance of Wadi al-Hujayr near Qaaqaait al-Jisr in the Nabatieh district this morning”. The Lebanese Ministry of Health’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center confirmed one fatality in the strike. Civil Defence officials said the vehicle caught fire, and the body was transported to a hospital in Nabatieh. The truce, mediated by the US and France, has largely held, though sporadic flare-ups have continued. Israel has said its strikes are intended to neutralise Hezbollah threats. However, the Lebanese government and several Arab states have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire agreement. Despite the truce’s provision requiring a full Israeli withdrawal, Israeli forces continue to hold several strategically important positions in southern Lebanon.
-IANS
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
India remains the fastest-growing large economy and is expected to record a 6.3 per cent growth this fiscal year, while the global economy faces a “precarious moment,” according to the UN.
“India remains one of the fastest growing large economies driven by strong private consumption and public investment, even as growth projections have been lowered to 6.3 per cent in 2025” from the 6.6 per cent made in January, Ingo Pitterle, a senior economic affairs officer, said on 15 May 2025.
The UN’s mid-year update of the World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) report said India’s economy is projected to grow a tad faster next year at 6.4 per cent, even though it is also 0.3 per cent lower than the January projection. “The world economy is at a precarious moment,” the report warned.
“Heightened trade tensions, along with policy uncertainty, have significantly weakened the global economic outlook for 2025. It’s been a nervous, time for the global economy,” Shantanu Mukherjee, the director of the Economic Analysis and Policy Division, said at the release of the WESP. “In January this year, we were expecting two years of stable, if subpar growth, and since then, prospects have diminished,” he added. Against this picture, the growth of the world’s fifth-largest economy, India, contrasts with the global rate of 2.4 per cent this year, and that of other major economies, according to the WESP.
The projection for China is 4.6 per cent, for the US 1.6 per cent, Germany (negative) -0.1 per cent, Japan 0.7 per cent, and the European Union 1 per cent. “Resilient private consumption and strong public investment, alongside robust services exports, will support economic growth” for India, the report said. On inflation and employment, the WESP saw positive trends for India. “Inflation is projected to slow from 4.9 per cent in 2024 to 4.3 per cent in 2025, staying within the central bank’s target range,” it said. “Unemployment remains largely stable amid steady economic conditions,” it said, but added a note of caution that “persistent gender disparities in employment underscore the need for greater inclusivity in workforce participation“. The WESP drew attention to the risks to the export sector from the US tariff threats. “While looming US tariffs weigh on merchandise exports, currently exempt sectors — such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, semiconductors, energy, and copper — could limit the economic impact, though these exemptions may not be permanent,” it said. The International Monetary Fund last month projected India’s economy to grow by 6.2 per cent this year and 6.3 per cent next year.
-IANS
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
