On December 9, 2025, a report titled “Top Indian arms makers held rare meetings in Russia on potential joint ventures” appeared in Reuters. IDN was among the numerous mainstream media outlets that were duped by this Reuters fabrication.
According to the source, during an Indian defense delegation’s visit to Moscow on October 29–30, at least six executives from top Indian defense companies, such as Adani Defence and Bharat Forge, attended meetings.
Discussions on cooperative production, replacement parts for Russian systems like the MiG-29, and possible shipments back to Russia were detailed by people with knowledge of the situation. The
Bharat Forge, part of the Kalyani Group, swiftly issued a strong denial later that day via the Bombay Stock Exchange. The business said it was not represented nor involved in the aforementioned discussions. It further clarified that no individual from Bharat Forge or any Kalyani Group entity has travelled to Russia since 2021. The
Reuters was accused of spreading false information as a result of the denial, especially on social networking sites like Reddit and X (previously Twitter). The report was deemed false by users, who also questioned Reuters’ use of unnamed sources and claimed that it was a targeted effort. Some cited trends of unreliable reporting on Indian defense issues by foreign media. The
Using hashtags like #FakeNews and #MediaBias, social media posts from accounts like Indian Defence Times intensified the debate. Concerns over foreign media narratives were brought up during discussions in light of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s demand for India’s defense independence. Opponents claimed that rival countries were financing this kind of coverage. The
Although the other companies mentioned did not immediately reply, Adani Group likewise denied that its executives were present. The conversations, which took place amid enhanced defense ties between India and Russia during President Putin’s visit, were described by Reuters as the first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Media outlets were advised by Bharat Forge to refrain from speculative reporting based on unconfirmed facts. The
This incident highlights the conflicts that exist between Indian companies and international wire providers during delicate defense partnerships.
Reuters defended its anonymous sourcing, which is typical in these kinds of publications, but the denial has sparked discussions about responsibility.
As of December 11, 2025, Reuters had not yet issued an official reply. The episode serves as a reminder of the difficulties in confirming important defense news. The
