# Delhi Police says viral Jantar Mantar protest video is old footage

2026-09-27T06:21:22+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Delhi Police has said a viral video claiming to show a live, massive protest at Jantar Mantar is actually old footage from a past event. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma posted a misinformation alert on X, calling the claim false. The police warned that legal action will be taken against those deliberately spreading misleading content. The video was shared by several accounts, including Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who said it showed protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The clarification comes amid a political row over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and opposition demands for Kumar's resignation. The Election Commission has said all SIR decisions were unanimous.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All three outlets lead with the police denial, but Times of India and Hindustan Times give the political context prominently, naming Sanjay Raut and the SIR row. India TV stays closest to the police statement, omitting the protest's target and Raut's involvement. The balanced reading is that the police debunk is not disputed, but the story's significance lies in why the video was circulating. The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 will test whether this row gains traction beyond social media.

## Coverage

- indiatvnews.com (neutral report) <https://www.indiatvnews.com/delhi/viral-jantar-mantar-protest-video-is-old-delhi-police-issues-misinformation-alert-2026-09-27-1055393>
  Straight police statement, no political context given
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/old-footage-delhi-police-fact-checks-viral-jantar-mantar-protest-video-amid-sir-row/articleshow/134515108.cms>
  Police fact-check led, but full political row context included
- hindustantimes.com (neutral report) <https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/old-video-sparks-buzz-delhi-police-debunks-jantar-mantar-live-protest-101790482096234.html>
  Police debunk led, SIR row and opposition protests noted

Tags: Delhi Police, Election Commission of India, Gyanesh Kumar, Jantar Mantar, Sanjay Raut
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/delhi-police-debunks-viral-jantar-mantar-protest-video-as-old-footage/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/delhi-police-debunks-viral-jantar-mantar-protest-video-as-old-footage/#story-in-brief