FACT CHECK: Phone Conversation Between Swati Maliwal And Dhruv Rathee Is NOT Real, Call Is AI-Generated

Swati Maliwal Dhruv Rathee Phone Call AI-Generated: A purported recording of an alleged telephonic conversation between AAP MP Swati Maliwal and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was shared on social media with a claim that both of them talked about the assault case she filed against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar. In its investigation, the PTI Fact Check Desk found that the viral audio clip is AI-generated voice clones of Atishi and Rathee, and was shared on social media with a false claim. On May 13, Swati Maliwal alleged that she was assaulted by Arvind Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar at the Chief Minister’s residence in Delhi.

Claim Regarding Swati Maliwal-Dhruv Rathee Phone Call

A Facebook user shared on May 25 a video of a purported call recording between AAP leader Swati Maliwal and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, in which the former can be heard saying that she was assaulted at the behest of Delhi CM’s wife Sunita Kejriwal. An English translation of the caption read, “Delhi Swati Maliwal and Dhruv Rathi’s video went viral Swati Maliwal asked Dhruv Rathi not to make videos as per your request. Beating happened at the behest of Kejriwal and Sunita Ghruv makes video on opposition’s agenda.”

FACT Check: Phone Call Between Swati Maliwal And Dhruv Rathee Is AI-Generated

According to the PTI Desk, they listened to the audio and noticed several discrepancies in it. Also, several words were repeatedly pronounced. Starting the investigation, the Desk ran the video through InVid Tool Search and found several keyframes. On running one of the keyframes through Google Lens, the Desk found several posts carrying the same video with similar claims. The video was widely shared on YouTube as well. The Desk noticed one of the comments on the posts, claiming that the post was fake and action should be taken against it.

The Desk again listened to the audio closely, and found that discrepancies which suggested that it might be fake or digitally created. At 00:07 and 00:09 seconds, jump-cuts and overlaying of voices of Rathee and Maliwal can be clearly noticed. The Desk then ran the viral video through Itisaar, an AI detection tool developed in collaboration with IIT Jodhpur. The tool confirmed that the audio was AI generated and conclusively fake with a high confidence level. Subsequently, the Desk concluded that a fake AI-generated audio clip was shared with the claim that it was the recording of telephonic conversation between Swati Maliwal and Dhruv Rathee.