Viral video of Deepender Hooda embracing Rahul Gandhi is AI-generated

What is the claim?

A video showing Deepender Hooda, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rohtak, embracing fellow Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has gone viral on social media. The video displays Hooda’s X (formerly Twitter) username, implying that he posted it himself.

A verified user on X, ‘KK Nehra,’ captioned the video in Hindi, “What was this brother? Sometimes Priyanka Gandhi and sometimes Deepender Hooda… Do they have a different system?” Similar claims using the video can be viewed here and here.

Screenshots of the social media posts (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, our investigation found that the video was fabricated. Several discrepancies indicate that it was generated using artificial intelligence (AI).

What we found

A close examination of the video revealed several inconsistencies. For instance, a hand that should belong to Hooda appears behind Gandhi before the embrace. However, Hooda’s left hand remains on the car door even as his body turns toward Gandhi. Furthermore, Hooda’s face becomes blurry as it approaches Gandhi, which is a common indicator of AI manipulation.

Several discrepancies were visible in the video. (Source: X)

Several online applications, such as one called 'AI Hug Generator,' enable users to create realistic visuals of people hugging or kissing based on prompts. However, we could not independently verify which AI tool was used to create this video.

We traced the watermark in the video to an Instagram account named ‘@Paltupaltann’ (archived here). However, the account has since deleted the clip. The account features several AI-generated or edited videos of Gandhi and other Congress leaders. We have contacted the user and will update the story upon receiving a response.

When was the original picture taken? 

We found the original image on Hooda’s social media accounts, posted during an election campaign meeting on October 1, 2024. The photo was taken during the 'Haryana Vijay Sankalp Yatra,' a multi-constituency rally leading up to the Haryana Assembly elections. 

Hooda shared the photo on his X account (archived here) and Facebook (archived here) with the caption: “Our leader.” In the image, they are seen standing by a car door as Gandhi adjusts his turban while Hooda looks at him.

Screenshot of Deepender Hooda’s X post. (Source: X) 

We also found a video from the event on Gandhi’s official YouTube channel (archived here). At the one-minute mark, Hooda can be seen helping Gandhi wear the turban. At no point do the Congress leaders embrace or kiss.

Additionally, a front-angle video recorded by Punjab Kesari journalist Amandeep Pillania and shared on X (archived here) shows Hooda assisting Gandhi with his turban. In this video, Hooda’s hand remains on the car door, and he does not embrace or kiss Gandhi at any point.

Screenshot of Amandeep Pillania’s X post. (Source: X) 

The verdict

Our investigation confirms that the viral video is fake. Videos from the rally do not show Rahul Gandhi and Deepender Hooda embracing each other.