WebQoof Recap: False Claims Around PM Modi in France, Delhi Stampede & KIIT Case
Here are the viral pieces of misinformation that we debunked this week!
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From misinformation around Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to France, the stampede in New Delhi Railway Station and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) student suicide case, here are the viral pieces of fake news that we fact-checked this week.
1. Edited Image Viral to Falsely Claim That PM Modi Travelled in Taxi in France
A photo is circulating on social media to claim that PM Modi was riding in a taxi during his official trip to France.
However, this claim is false. The image has been edited and original image dates back to 2021 when PM Modi visited Italy and is not recent.
Read the story here.
2. Deepfake Video of Harsha Richhariya Kissing a Policeman at Kumbh Mela Goes Viral
A video featuring spiritual content creator and host Harsha Richhariya exiting a car and then kissing a police officer is going viral on social media.
It additionally mentions that this was documented at the Maha Kumbh mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
However, the video is a deep fake. Richhariya posted the original video on her verified Instagram profile, which is distinct from the edited version.
Read the fact-check here.
3. No, This Image Doesn’t Show Father of the Accused in KIIT Student Case
A photo of a man called Manoj K Srivastava is being shared, with users claiming he is the father of 21-year-old Advik Srivastava, who has been taken into custody by the police concerning the death of a female student at KIIT in Odisha.
However, the claim is false. The individual shown in the viral photo stated that he is not related to the accused.
Srivastava refuted the claim and added that no son of his studies at any engineering university in Odisha. He further clarified that he has no connection with the accused.
Read the fact-check here.
4. Old Clip Shared as Rahul Gandhi Meeting Delhi Railway Station Stampede Victims
A clip of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra donning masks in a hospital environment is being shared on social media platforms.
Users have claimed that it shows them visiting the victims of the stampede that occurred at New Delhi Railway Station.
However, the claim is false. The video shows them at a relief camp, meeting people impacted by landslides in Kerala's Wayanad in August 2024.
Read the fact-check here.
5. Old, Unrelated Videos Passed Off as Recent Visuals From Delhi Earthquake
A set of videos, including one depicting water overflowing from a bathtub and another showing a significant tremor recorded by CCTV, is circulating online as recent footage from the earthquake that hit Delhi in the early morning of 17 February.
This video is old from 2021 and it is from Japan.
(Source: Altered by The Quint)
However, both videos do not show the recent earthquake in Delhi.
The first clip is from February 2021 and shows water overflowing from a bathtub as a result of an earthquake in Japan.
The oldest post containing the second video was shared a day before the Delhi earthquake and one of a tremor in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Read the story here.
(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9540511818 , or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)