No link between DGEME Lt Gen Sahni and Thailand assault video, says Army

The Indian Army on Wednesday dismissed as false and misleading social media claims alleging that Director General of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (DG EME), Lt Gen Rajiv Kiran Sahni, was assaulted by transgender women in Thailand following an altercation.

The clarification came after several posts circulated online, falsely linking a viral video from Thailand to the senior Indian Army officer.

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Refuting the claim, the Indian Army’s fact-checking handle, Armed Forces Fact Check, stated on X that the incident had no connection with Lt Gen Sahni and was being deliberately misrepresented to spread disinformation and damage the image of the Army.

“Fake posts are falsely claiming that an Indian Army officer, Lt Gen Rajiv Kiran Sahni, DG EME, was assaulted in Phuket, Thailand. The video and reports actually relate to a separate incident involving a 52-year-old Indian tourist, Raj Jasuja, in Thailand in December 2025,” the fact-check unit said.

It further described the posts as a “deliberate attempt to spread disinformation, mislead the public and tarnish the image of the Indian Army.”

According to reports from Thailand, the original incident occurred in Pattaya on December 27, 2025, when an Indian tourist was allegedly attacked following a dispute over payment for sexual services.

Local media reports said rescue personnel from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation received an emergency call at around 5:30 am regarding an injured foreign national near the beachside entrance of Pattaya’s famous Walking Street.

The victim was identified as 52-year-old Indian citizen Raj Jasuja. Rescue workers reportedly found him with visible injuries on his face and the back of his head. He was administered first aid at the scene before being shifted to a hospital for further treatment.

The Army’s clarification comes amid growing concerns over the circulation of misleading and manipulated content on social media platforms, with authorities urging users to verify information before sharing it online.