Not a sting: Viral cash-for-signature video of Bratya Basu was AI generated

The subject of much gossip is a video that has gone viral on social media, claiming West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu was seen accepting a large sum of money as a bribe in exchange for signing a document. Framed as a news bulletin from a channel called “Tehalka TV," the clip has been presented as evidence of a sting operation.

A fact check published by BOOM says the viral clip was found to be AI-generated and not authentic footage.

Also Read | Two guards stabbed in Mumbai after being asked to recite 'Kalma': Pahalgam tremors felt in financial capital

Glitches gave the game away

BOOM published that the widely shared video was AI-generated. Google's SynthID tool, which is intended to identify content produced using Google AI systems, was used for the verification.

During the assessment, multiple visual irregularities were also noticed in the footage.The kind of glitches and inconsistencies commonly seen in AI-generated videos. BOOM’s partners at the Deepfakes Analysis Unit (DAU) independently examined the clip and reached the same conclusion, confirming that it had been produced using Google AI tools.

The 36-second video is styled like a television news bulletin. It carries the Hindi logo of “Tehalka TV” and includes Bangla text claiming that footage of Bratya Basu had surfaced ahead of the second phase of the state elections. In the clip, Basu appears to take money from an unidentified person, smile, and sign a document.

The rise of viral misinformation

Basu, who is the West Bengal education minister, has been a recurring target of politically charged online content amid wider debates over education, recruitment, and corruption in the state. The circulation of the clip adds to a growing volume of manipulated and misleading visuals that have been used to push allegations without supporting evidence.

The fact check stresses the need for caution before sharing sensational videos that appear to show public figures in compromising situations.

Also Read | Did Indian Army officers really slam Donald Trump? Viral videos may not be what you think