Putin Photo Holding Bhagavad Gita on Flight Turns Out to Be AI Creation
Fact-Check: Viral Photo of Putin Reading Bhagavad Gita Is Fake: A photo circulating widely on social media showing Russian President Vladimir Putin reading the Bhagavad Gita aboard an aircraft has been confirmed to be AI-generated.
The image went viral shortly after Putin concluded his two-day state visit to India on December 4–5, 2025, during which he attended the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit and met President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the visit, PM Modi gifted Putin a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita, a gesture that sparked significant online discussion.
How the Fake Image Went Viral
The photo was shared by several users on social media platforms, including X and Facebook, claiming to show Putin reading the sacred text mid-flight. One post read, “A beautiful gift from India, the Bhagavad Gita. President Putin reading the Bhagavad Gita.” The image quickly gained traction, drawing thousands of engagements.
However, an archived version of the posts shows no credible source or official media outlet confirming the authenticity of the picture.
Fact-Check: AI Detectors Flag Image as Fake
According to the report investigation used multiple AI-detection tools to verify the image. The results were conclusive:
- Deepfake-O-Meter (GLFF 2024 model): Determined the image is 86.7% fake, likely created by AI.
- Hive Moderation: Rated the image as 99% AI-generated.
- SynthID: Confirmed the image was created using Google’s AI tools, identifying clear markers of synthetic generation.
No legitimate news reports or government releases support the existence of such a photograph, further confirming that the viral image is fabricated.
Context Behind the Misleading Image
The AI-generated photo appears to have been created to exploit the context of PM Modi gifting a Russian version of the Bhagavad Gita to President Putin during their informal interaction. While the gesture itself is real, the viral image is not.
According t o the report has advised users to be cautious of AI-generated misinformation, especially visually convincing images that circulate without credible verification.
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