The Enforcement Directorate has accused Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader KN Nehru’s family, including his son Arun Nehru, in a probe alleging diversion of loan funds and systemic corruption tied to the Municipal Administration and Water Supply department.
The case involves alleged siphoning of bank loans through shell companies and bribe-linked tender manipulation, prompting ED raids and a push for an FIR in a Rs 1,020 crore corruption and money-laundering investigation.
In the above context, an image is widely being shared on social media in which Arun Nehru is seen meeting and greeting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
There are two images. In one image, he is seen bowing in front of Sitharaman and in other he is seen touching her feet.
A social media user shared the images with a caption suggesting that Arun Nehru touched the feet of Sitharaman after the ED had raided them.
The caption reads, “Finally, KN Nehru’s son Arun Nehru found the rationalist parrot he had been searching for everywhere. Vijayanagar heritage... @ArunNehru_DMK”) (Translated from Tamil)
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The images are AI-generated.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that PIB Fact Check had shared a video where we can see Arun Nehru touching the feet of Nirmala Sitharaman.
The video is shared with a caption suggesting that the viral video is AI-generated. The video is shared with a caption that reads, “Don’t Be Fooled by AI-Altered Videos! A ‘doctored video’ of the Union Finance Minister @nsitharaman is circulating on social media. #PIBFactCheck. The video in circulation is #fake and has been digitally altered using AI tools to misrepresent the Union Finance Minister. Stay cautious of AI-generated and digitally manipulated content designed to mislead.”
We further found that Arun Nehru had shared an image of himself and Nirmala Sitharaman on his X account on December 9.
The image is shared with a caption that reads, “Today in New Delhi, I met the Hon’ble Finance Minister to emphasise two key concerns that directly impact the lives of common citizens: Urgent reforms in consumer protection within credit bureau systems, to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability for borrowers across India. Fast-tracking refunds for thousands of families, especially women from Thuraiyur who lost their hard-earned savings due to the PACL Ltd scam.”
Nirmala Sitharaman had also shared an image of them meeting on her X account. However, neither of these pics show Arun Nehru bowing to touch the feet of Sitharaman.
While analysing the images shared by them through AI-image detectors, we can conclude that they are not AI-generated. However, the video shared by PIB Fact Check shows slow motion, and a discrepancy in the facial expression of Nirmala Sitharaman as she bows. Thus, suggesting that the viral video is AI-generated.