A video circulating online has been misrepresented as footage of protests in response to a controversial verdict by the Supreme Court of India. This video, which claims to depict a massive demonstration against the court’s decision regarding the Aravalli hills, was actually filmed during a community meeting in January 2025, months before the ruling.
Protests erupted across India following the Supreme Court’s decision in November 2025, which environmentalists argue could lead to the mining of the ecologically significant Aravalli mountain range. The ruling narrowed the definition of the hills, excluding areas under 100 metres (328 feet) in altitude from protection, thus allowing mining activities in those regions. Environmental advocates warn that this change could expose lower hills, crucial for maintaining ecological balance, to development and exploitation.
The disputed video was widely shared on social media platforms, with a post on X (formerly Twitter) featuring the caption, “A crowd of millions to save the Aravalli hills! There is strength in unity.” It included a “Save Aravalli” hashtag, falsely suggesting it was a recent protest event.
Context of the Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court’s ruling has sparked significant backlash from environmentalists. According to the Asian News International (ANI), the government contends that the change is intended to standardise regulations and enhance environmental protections, not diminish them. On December 29, 2025, the court stayed its own order and established an expert panel to examine the ecological implications further.
Investigations into the origins of the video revealed that it was actually recorded during a mahapanchayat, a traditional community gathering, in a village in Rajasthan in January 2025. A reverse image search linked the footage to a report by local media outlet News18, published on January 28, 2025. The report confirmed that the event was convened to address a dispute between families regarding a cancelled wedding ceremony, attracting between 12,000 and 13,000 participants.
Amit Meena, a resident who attended the January meeting, clarified in a phone interview with AFP on December 24 that the gathering was held at a wrestling ground in the village. He emphasized that the video is unrelated to any protests concerning the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Aravalli hills.
The Impact of Misinformation
The dissemination of misleading information regarding the protests reflects a broader issue of misinformation in the digital age. AFP has previously debunked various instances where visual evidence of large gatherings was misrepresented, underscoring the need for critical scrutiny of the sources and contexts of such claims.
As tensions regarding environmental issues continue to rise, the importance of accurate reporting cannot be overstated. The misrepresentation of the video not only misleads the public but also complicates the dialogue surrounding significant ecological policies and their implications for communities across India.
