A video widely shared across social media platforms falsely claims that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay (popularly known as Thalapathy Vijay) travelled to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to support climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been leading a high-profile protest over Ladakh-related demands.
The claim gained traction on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Shorts and other platforms, with users asserting that Vijay had joined Wangchuk’s agitation in the national capital. However, a verification of the footage found no evidence supporting the claim.
Reverse image searches, official video records and multiple independent fact-checks confirmed that the video was actually filmed during Vijay’s first official visit to Perambur, Chennai, after assuming office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. During that visit, he inaugurated a legislative constituency office, launched a ration card distribution programme, inspected public infrastructure and interacted with residents.
As the misleading claim spread online, Delhi Police also issued an official clarification through its verified X account, stating that the video was not from Jantar Mantar and urging people not to circulate false or misleading information. Independent fact-checking organisations and media outlets subsequently reached the same conclusion, classifying the viral claim as false.
How The Claim Was Debunked
The viral clip showed Vijay walking through a large crowd amid heavy security deployment, leading many social media users to claim that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had arrived at Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk. Given the national attention surrounding Wangchuk’s protest, the visuals quickly attracted engagement and speculation that another prominent political leader had extended support to the movement.
To verify the claim, fact-checkers searched for credible news reports, official government statements and verified social media updates. No reputable news organisation reported that Vijay had travelled to Delhi or visited Jantar Mantar in connection with Wangchuk’s protest. Investigators then performed reverse image searches using key frames from the viral video.
The search traced the footage to videos uploaded on YouTube on 13 July 2026, identifying the location as Perambur in Chennai. A matching video published on India Today’s official YouTube channel confirmed that the footage documented Vijay’s first official visit to his retained Assembly constituency after becoming Chief Minister.
According to the official description accompanying the original video, Vijay inaugurated a legislative office, launched a state ration card distribution programme, inspected civic infrastructure, including a local bus depot, and interacted with residents, schoolchildren and welfare beneficiaries.
The visit drew thousands of supporters, resulting in visuals of crowded streets and heavy security arrangements that closely resembled the scenes shared in the misleading posts. However, neither the original video nor any accompanying reports made any reference to Jantar Mantar or Sonam Wangchuk.
As misinformation continued to circulate, Delhi Police stepped in with an official fact-check. In a post from its verified X account, the police stated: “Fact check: This information is false. The video being circulated is not from Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Please do not spread or amplify false or misleading information.” The clarification directly refuted the viral narrative and confirmed that the footage had been falsely linked to Delhi.
Old Footage, New Narrative
The episode illustrates a familiar pattern in online misinformation, where authentic visuals from one event are repackaged with a false narrative to create a misleading impression. In this case, a genuine video of Vijay’s public outreach programme in Perambur was stripped of its original context and presented as evidence of his participation in an unrelated protest hundreds of kilometres away.
Independent fact-checking organisations, including Fact Crescendo, also verified the claim by tracing the footage back to its original upload and matching it with official coverage. Several national media organisations, including The Times of India, ABP Live, News24 and Live Hindustan, subsequently reported Delhi Police’s clarification and confirmed that the claim was false.
The incident unfolded against the backdrop of Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing protest, which has generated widespread public discussion and significant social media engagement. Such high-profile events often create fertile ground for misinformation, as unrelated photos and videos are frequently recycled to fit trending narratives. Experts have repeatedly cautioned that viral content shared without context can distort public understanding and contribute to confusion, particularly during politically sensitive developments.
The case also highlights the growing importance of digital verification tools such as reverse image searches, metadata analysis and cross-referencing with credible reporting. Simple verification methods can often reveal whether a viral image or video genuinely depicts the event it claims to show. In this instance, the original source material remained publicly available, making it possible to conclusively establish the video’s true origin.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The rapid spread of this misleading video serves as another reminder that virality should never be mistaken for credibility. In an era where social media allows information to travel faster than verification, even genuine visuals can become powerful tools of misinformation when removed from their original context. Miscontextualised content not only misleads audiences but also risks fuelling unnecessary political speculation and distracting attention from the issues that genuinely deserve public debate.
