Amid the ongoing military conflict between Iran and Israel-America, several Pakistan-based X accounts are circulating a photo claiming that authorities in Bahrain have detained an Indian national, Nitin Mohan, a telecommunications engineer, for transmitting sensitive geospatial data, photographs, and video reconnaissance of strategic locations to Mossad, Israel’s external intelligence service.
They also wrote on X that the suspect shared site imagery and operationally relevant information that could support foreign intelligence analysis and targeting assessments, and that the Ministry of Interior Bahrain, has confirmed the arrest but has not yet released further technical or investigative details regarding the case.
During our investigation, we also found that multiple Arabic users have shared similar claims, which can be viewed here, here and here.
Fact Check
Upon investigation, we found both the claim and the photo to be fake. On conducting a keyword search for news about any Indian national named Nitin Mohan being arrested by Bahrain authorities recently, in both English and Arabic languages, no such news was reported.
A reverse image search of the attached photo in the claim was conducted, and similar photos matching the background were found. However, some missing elements were also found. (shown in the comparison graphic below.)
The image was also cross-checked on the Foto Forensics tool, which further clarified alterations in the image.
There was a press release by the Police Media Centre of the Ministry of Interior of Bahrain that six people of Asian nationalities were arrested and referred to the Public Prosecution after they filmed and published videos related to the effects of Iranian aggression and glorified hostile acts in a manner that could harm security and public order.
Additionally, there were reports by Times Now and Arab Vines that the Bahrain Authorities have arrested five Pakistanis and one Bangladeshi national for alleged cybercrime violations, where no Indian names were mentioned. Times now reported that authorities in Bahrain have arrested five Pakistani nationals and one Bangladeshi national for allegedly filming and praising Iranian missile and drone attacks and sharing the videos on social media.
Conclusion
There is no evidence that an Indian Telecom Engineer was detained for transmitting sensitive data to Israel by Bahrain authorities, and the photo is digitally altered.
