ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

No, This Video Doesn't Show Delhi Police Arresting DU Professor Ratan Lal

This video is from 2020 and showed Chandigarh Police devising a way to nab those who defied COVID-19 norms.

Published
WebQoof
3 min read
story-hero-img
i
Aa
Aa
Small
Aa
Medium
Aa
Large
Hindi Female

A video which shows police personnel holding a long stick that has a round-shaped metal attached to it, arresting one person, is being shared on social media with the claim that it shows the arrest of Delhi University (DU) professor Ratan Lal.

Lal, a History professor in DU's Hindu College was arrested on Friday, 20 May, over a social media post he wrote in connection with the claims of a shivling inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi. He was granted bail a day later by the Tis Hazari Court, Delhi.

However, we found that the video is from 2020 and showed Chandigarh Police who had come out with a unique way to tackle non-cooperating COVID-19 suspects and curfew breakers.

ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

CLAIM

The video is being shared along with a claim in Hindi which loosely translated to, "Delhi University Professor Ratan Lal was arrested by Delhi Police for making derogatory and absurd comments about Shivling. He has been arrested this way, and I strongly support it."

This video is from 2020 and showed Chandigarh Police devising a way to nab those who defied COVID-19 norms.

An archive of the post can be found here.

(Source: Facebook/Screenshot)

0

WHAT WE FOUND

With the help of InVID WeVerify Google Chrome extension, we extracted keyframes from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search.

A Google reverse image search result led us to a story by The Indian Express published on 25 April 2020.

The title of the article read, "Watch: Chandigarh police' device to catch lockdown violators, with social distancing."

It mentioned that Chandigarh Police had devised a 'unique way of tackling non-cooperating COVID-19 suspects' and ones who didn't follow curfew norms.

This video is from 2020 and showed Chandigarh Police devising a way to nab those who defied COVID-19 norms.

The article was published in 2020.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The video was tweeted by the director general of police (DGP), Chandigarh, on 25 April 2020, with the caption, "VIP Security wing of Chandigarh Police has devised this unique way of tackling non-cooperating corona suspects and curfew breakers. Great equipment, great drill."

WHY WAS RATAN LAL ARRESTED?

Lal was arrested by officers of north Delhi's cyber police station, after a complaint was registered against the professor, for his social media post. Delhi police said that he has allegedly "intended to outrage reli­gious beliefs" through his social media post.

Lal was booked under Indian Penal Code's (IPC) Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage reli­gious feelings).
ADVERTISEMENTREMOVE AD

He was granted bail on 21 May by the Delhi court on furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000 and surety on like amount. The court specifically directed him to "strictly refrain from posting any social media posts or inverviews regarding the controversy which resulted in the present FIR."

Clearly, a video from 2020 is being shared falsely claiming that Lal was arrested by Delhi Police in an unusual way.

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9643651818, 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.)

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

Read Latest News and Breaking News at The Quint, browse for more from news and webqoof

Topics:  Delhi Police   DU Professor   Webqoof 

Speaking truth to power requires allies like you.
Become a Member
3 months
12 months
12 months
Check Member Benefits
Read More
×
×