Bhubaneswar: Several false narratives are being peddled on social media about internal unrest in the armed forces of India amid the simmering tensions with Pakistan in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack.
The most recent being removal of Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar from his office, leading to a chaotic situation in the Indian Air Force (IAF). It further claimed that he was sacked for expressing dissatisfaction with his pilots’ ability to handle Rafale jets, which was intercepted by Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday night.
India called out the bluff on Thursday, with PIB Fact Check clarifying it to be a fake news.
“Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts have falsely claimed that Air Marshal Sujeet Pushpakar Dharkar, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, has been sacked for refusing to fight a war against Pakistan. He retired as Vice Chief of the Air Staff on April 30, 2025, on superannuation from the Indian Air Force after completion of 40 years of service,” PIB pointed out.
On day of his superannuation, the Air Marshal was given a guard of honour at the Air Headquarters — Vayu Bhawan. He also paid tribute to the fallen heroes at the National War Memorial here.
Air Marshal SP Dharkar retired as VCAS on 30 Apr 25, after 40 yrs of distinguished service. A highly experienced fighter pilot, he tenanted several appointments during his illustrious career, including AOC-in-C of EAC and the first Director General of the Defence Space Agency.… pic.twitter.com/Z2JnebUJ3F
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) April 30, 2025
Dharkar, an accomplished fighter pilot with 3,600 hours of flying experience, took over as the 48th Vice Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh upon his elevation as the Chief of Air Staff, on October 3, 2024.
He is an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC), National Defence Academy (NDA), Defence Services Staff College and the US Air War College. He has commanded a frontline fighter unit and served as the first Director General of the Defence Space Agency.
Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, currently serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the South Western Air Command, will succeed him as Vice Chief of the Air Staff on May 2.
This came within 24 hours of another fake news about dismissal of army commander of Northern Command Lt. Gen MV Suchindra Kumar began doing the rounds on social media.
“An X handle (@commandeleven), operated by ISI proxies (blocked in India), is circulating an image on social media that falsely claims that a formal Court of Inquiry has been ordered against Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar of the Northern Command, who was earlier taken into custody for the Pahalgam incident. This image is fake No such post has ever been done by the official X handle of @HQ_IDS_India,” the PBI said on Wednesday.
Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar is attaining superannuation on April 30, it confirmed.
Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar took charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s Northern Command in February 2024, succeeding Gen Upendra Dwivedi, who now serves as the Chief of Army Staff.
Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, Army Commander #NorthernCommand laid wreath to honour the supreme sacrifice of the #Bravehearts at Dhruva War Memorial, #Udhampur on superannuation & relinquishing command of the Northern Command.#IndianArmy#NationFirst@lg_ladakh@OfficeOfLGJandK… pic.twitter.com/DYNHufLlqU
— NORTHERN COMMAND – INDIAN ARMY (@NorthernComd_IA) April 30, 2025
PIB further clarified that Lt Gen Pratik Sharma has been appointed as the next General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Indian Army’s Northern Command.
