Phagwara, Punjab: Amid protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU), a video went viral on social media claiming that a Punjab Police officeAmid protests at Lovely Professional University (LPU), a video went viral on social media claiming that a Punjab Police officer had linked the LPU incident to a BJP worker who was also Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s nephew. The claim added a political angle to an already tense situation. A fact-check later found that the video had been doctored and digitally manipulated using AI.
The controversy began after social media posts about the alleged sexual assault of a female LPU student triggered protests on campus. The unrest later escalated as students blocked National Highway 44 and clashed with police. LPU subsequently suspended classes for 10 days following the violence.
Police and university authorities have presented different accounts of the allegations, while the investigation continues. Authorities have also urged people not to rely on unverified information circulating on social media.
What Did the Viral Video Show?
The viral clip appeared to show a Punjab Police officer saying that a BJP worker, who was also Amit Shah’s nephew, had links to the LPU incident. However, Newschecker found no credible report showing that any Punjab Police officer had made such a statement.
Newschecker traced the footage to a Crime Tak video published on September 27, 2026. The original video features the same officer, identified as the Kapurthala SP. However, the original footage does not contain the statements heard in the viral clip.
A comparison of both versions also revealed visible distortion around the officer’s face. The voice and speech pattern in the viral version also differed from the original footage. Newschecker reported that multiple AI-detection tools identified the altered audio as likely AI-generated or fake.
The PIB Fact Check also flagged the video on September 28. It described the clip as “digitally manipulated and fake” and said the content used AI technology to create a misleading impression.
Newschecker therefore concluded that the viral video did not show an authentic statement from the Punjab Police officer about Amit Shah’s nephew. The original Crime Tak footage, the PIB Fact Check post and AI-detection assessments supported the finding.
The viral clip cannot serve as evidence that Amit Shah’s relative had any involvement in the LPU incident. The alleged family connection in the video has no support in the original police footage.
The episode also shows how manipulated content can add new claims to an already sensitive news cycle. As protests, allegations and unverified posts circulated around the LPU incident, the altered video introduced an unsupported political allegation into the controversy.
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