A 30-second-long video showing a large gathering of men-attired in white clothes and skull caps- marching with placards and sloganeering, is going viral on social media platforms. Those sharing the video claim that it showed a protest by Muslims in Kerala against the appointment of a Hindu Brahmin IAS officer. Newschecker found that the video is being shared out of context, giving a communal colour to the event.

RSS-affiliated Organiser Weekly was among several others who shared the video. In a Twitter post, it wrote “Kerala: Muslims in large number took out a procession opposing the appointment of new IAS collector, who is a Hindu Brahmin.”

Archived links to such posts can be found 

No, Kerala Bus Driver Did Not Wear ‘Islamic Attire’ On Duty

Newschecker began the investigation by ascertaining whether visuals seen in the viral video are from Kerala’s Malappuram or not. On carefully analysing the video, we spotted text on several buildings written in what appears to be in Malayalam script. In addition, we also noticed ‘Poly Dental Clinic’ written on one of the buildings. Taking a clue, we conducted a Google keyword search for ‘Poly Dental Clinic Malappuram’ which led us to an image of the clinic uploaded on 

(L-R) Screengrab from viral video posted by @eOrganiser on Twitter and image in Justdial website

We also spotted ‘Beauty Spot Up-Hill, Malappuram’ clearly written on one of the boards. We could thus conclude that the incident seen in the viral video is actually from Malappuram.

Screengrab from video posted by @eorganiser on Twitter

Following this, we tried to understand the context of the protests by carefully listening to the slogans in the video. Newschecker Malayalam team translated the slogans for us. The men seen in the video can be heard saying, “Government not ashamed of giving milk and honey to a person who did a murder in a drunken state? Withdraw the order of appointing him as collector,” in Malayalam.

were heard in the video, Newschecker Malayalam team confirmed to us.

We continued our investigation to understand more about the cause of the protests and conducted a keyword search “

” on Google which yielded several recent news reports on the same. One such report by 

, dated July 31, 2022, stated, “Protest marches were held to the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and Collectorates in other districts against the appointment of Sriram Venkitaraman as the Alappuzha Collector.”

accused in a drunk-driving accident that caused the death of journalist K M Basheer 

“Deciding the posts of IAS officers is a policy decision of the government. By appointing such a person to the post, the government is abetting the subversion of justice and law,” the report quoted Kerala Muslim Jamaath state secretary Wandoor Abdul Rahman Faizy as saying while inaugurating the march in Malappuram.

The protests against the appointment of Sriram Venkitaraman as the Alappuzha Collector were

 from several places across the state. Muslim Jamaath state vice-president Pattuvam K P Aboobakkar Musliar, who inaugurated the march in Kannur, said “We cannot accept the government stand to give a promotion to the accused in a murder case, instead of punishing him.”

To know more about the case in which Venkitaraman is an accused, we conducted a keyword search for “KM Basheer Death” which led us to a report by

, dated  August 03, 2020, titled ‘A year since journalist Basheer’s death: No trial yet, accused IAS officer back in service.’

KM Basheer, who was the Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of regional daily Siraj, died after getting hit by a high-speeding car allegedly driven by Venkitaraman in the wee hours of August 4, 2019. The report noted, “Although eyewitnesses said that Sriram was behind the wheel and was in an inebriated state when he stepped out of the car, there was a major lapse in initiating the immediate legal proceedings, which eventually weakened the case.” 

Reportedly, there were allegations that police had extended all support to save the IAS officer from the case. Venkitaraman blood samples were taken for testing for alcohol only after over eight hours. The chargesheet in the case was also filed after six months. 

A report by Mathrubhumi, dated September 27, 2021, also noted that the case was initially investigated by Museum police and their apathy in collecting evidence weakened the case. Read the full report 

The officer is also accused of tampering with the evidence in the case. You can read other reports on the protests

by the Kerala government and appointed as the Joint secretary in the health department in March 2020 after a few months of suspension.

Congress & Other Organisations Also Protested

Notably, KM Basheer worked for a local newspaper 

 which is considered to be a mouthpiece of All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama. 

who is the General Secretary of the Ulama is also the Publisher of 

like Jamaath against Sriram’s appointment.

However, Jamaath was not the sole torch bearer of these protests. There were a series of protests across the state against the appointment of Venkitaraman as Alappuzha’s District Collector helmed by different organisations.

 had staged a dharna in front of the District Collectorate to protest the appointment of Sriram Venkitaraman as the District Collector of Alappuzha on July 25, 2022.

Screenshot of Facebook post by @aashukkooralappuzha

It was organised by the District Congress Committee and was inaugurated by KPCC general secretary 

 who also said that Venkitaraman is a tainted bureaucrat. He urged the State government to immediately revoke his appointment as Collector.

On July 26, 2022 when Venkitaraman assumed the office of Alappuzha district collector,  

 waved black flags at him as his car entered the collectorate premises

Leader of opposition V D Satheesan had also condemned this appointment. The Congress leader had

that the government’s decision was improper, and the government was trying to save Venkitaraman from the very beginning itself, when he became involved in the drunken driving case.

had also announced a demonstration in front of the collectorate on August 6 from 10 am to 6 pm, to pressurise the government to remove Sriram.

Not only the opposition, journalists also carried out protests against the government’s decision to appoint Venkitaraman as Alappuzha district collector. 

 (KUWJ) held a protest march in Alappuzha outside the district collectorate on July 27, 2022. 

Newschecker reached out to KUWJ Outgoing President  K P Reji who told us about the Union’s protests at different headquarters over the appointment of Venkitaraman. Reji said that the KUWJ was involved in the matter from day -1. When Sriram’s suspension was revoked by the government, Reji said that the Union “held several protest meetings, gave representation to the government, issued public statements against the appointment and some social media campaigns.” The opposition front had also protested against the same, he added.

The Union also protested against Venkitaraman’s appointment as Alappuzha district collector. Reji said, “Firstly we conducted a collectorate march at Alappuzha, then a secretariat march and collectorate march at various district headquarters.”  He further told us that the Union was planning to observe a state-wide protest on August 3, to commemorate the death anniversary of Basheer as well as against Sriram’s appointment, however since the government revoked the appointment so the protest was cancelled.

He said that various organisations were against the appointment. “I think… almost all the organisations except the ruling front constituents had  opposed the appointment..” Reji said. The Congress was the first one to hold a protest against the same.Reji also clarified that there was no communal angle to the protest. 

He also shared several photos and videos from the KUWJ’s protest across the state. The same can be seen below.

Images of KUWJ’s protest in Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Thrisoor shared by KP Reji with Newschecker team

 (ICF) also held protest rallies against Sriram’s appointment. 

Following the massive state-wide protests, the 

on Monday revoked Sriram’s appointment as Alappuzha district collector and he was moved to the Kerala Civil Supplies Corporation as the general manager.

Viral posts claiming to show members of a particular community protesting against the appointment of Hindu IAS officer in Kerala have been shared out of context giving communal colour to the incident.

Telephonic Conversation With KUWJ Outgoing President  K P Reji On August 3, 2022

If you would like us to fact check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 

​. You can also visit the Contact Us​ page and fill the form.

A 30-second-long video showing a large gathering of men-attired in white clothes and skull caps- marching with placards and sloganeering, is going viral on social media platforms. Those sharing the video claim that it showed a protest by Muslims in Kerala against the appointment of a Hindu Brahmin IAS officer. Newschecker found that the video is being shared out of context, giving a communal colour to the event.RSS-affiliated Organiser Weekly was among several others who shared the video. In a Twitter post, it wrote “Kerala: Muslims in large number took out a procession opposing the appointment of new IAS collector, who is a Hindu Brahmin.”<img src="https://images.factly.in/dega/english/2022/8/m1.jpeg" alt="Protests Against Appointment Of Hindu IAS Officer In Kerala? Know The Truth Here">Screenshot of Tweet by @eOrganiser<img src="https://images.factly.in/dega/english/2022/8/m-2-2.jpeg" alt="">Screenshot of Tweet by @RadharamnDas<img src="https://images.factly.in/dega/english/2022/8/m-33.jpeg" alt="Protests Against Appointment Of Hindu IAS Officer In Kerala? Know The Truth Here">Screenshot of Tweet by @Satyendra_VHPArchived links to such posts can be found <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://archive.ph/QEqye">here</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://archive.ph/VfVU8">here</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://archive.ph/9pZcR">here</a>.Also Read: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://newschecker.in/fact-check/kerala-bus-driver-uniform">No, Kerala Bus Driver Did Not Wear ‘Islamic Attire’ On Duty</a><h2>Fact Check/Verification</h2>Newschecker began the investigation by ascertaining whether visuals seen in the viral video are from Kerala’s Malappuram or not. On carefully analysing the video, we spotted text on several buildings written in what appears to be in Malayalam script. In addition, we also noticed ‘Poly Dental Clinic’ written on one of the buildings. Taking a clue, we conducted a Google keyword search for ‘Poly Dental Clinic Malappuram’ which led us to an image of the clinic uploaded on <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CiUy_Qb5YfF0n5pFGWVTHNwey1mFMAu2bzmoojsm8Ck/edit">Justdial</a>, same as one seen in the viral video.<img src="https://images.factly.in/dega/english/2022/8/ev12.jpeg" alt="">(L-R) Screengrab from viral video posted by @eOrganiser on Twitter and image in Justdial websiteWe also spotted ‘Beauty Spot Up-Hill, Malappuram’ clearly written on one of the boards. We could thus conclude that the incident seen in the viral video is actually from Malappuram.<img src="https://images.factly.in/dega/english/2022/8/eve3.jpeg" alt="">Screengrab from video posted by @eorganiser on TwitterFollowing this, we tried to understand the context of the protests by carefully listening to the slogans in the video. Newschecker Malayalam team translated the slogans for us. The men seen in the video can be heard saying, “Government not ashamed of giving milk and honey to a person who did a murder in a drunken state? Withdraw the order of appointing him as collector,” in Malayalam. No communal slogans were heard in the video, Newschecker Malayalam team confirmed to us.What Were The Protests About?We continued our investigation to understand more about the cause of the protests and conducted a keyword search “<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Malappuram+Kerala+Protests+IAS&amp;oq=Malappuram+Kerala+Protests+IAS&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j69i59i450l8.291j0j15&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Malappuram Kerala Protests IAS</a>” on Google which yielded several recent news reports on the same. One such report by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/07/31/protest-against-sriram-appointment-alappuzha-collector.html">Onmanorama</a>, dated July 31, 2022, stated, “Protest marches were held to the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and Collectorates in other districts against the appointment of Sriram Venkitaraman as the Alappuzha Collector.”It added that Sriram is accused in a drunk-driving accident that caused the death of journalist K M Basheer a few years ago.<img src="https://images.factly.in/dega/english/2022/8/eve4.jpeg" alt="">Screenshot of Onmanorama website“Deciding the posts of IAS officers is a policy decision of the government. By appointing such a person to the post, the government is abetting the subversion of justice and law,” the report quoted Kerala Muslim Jamaath state secretary Wandoor Abdul Rahman Faizy as saying while inaugurating the march in Malappuram.The protests against the appointment of Sriram Venkitaraman as the Alappuzha Collector were<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/jul/31/thousands-take-part-in-protests-against-ias-srirams-posting-2482458.html"> reported</a> from several places across the state. Muslim Jamaath state vice-president Pattuvam K P Aboobakkar Musliar, who inaugurated the march in Kannur, said “We cannot accept the government stand to give a promotion to the accused in a murder case, instead of punishing him.”To know more about the case in which Venkitaraman is an accused, we conducted a keyword search for “KM Basheer Death” which led us to a report by<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/year-journalist-basheer-s-death-no-trial-yet-accused-ias-officer-back-service-129941"> The News Minute</a>, dated  August 03, 2020, titled ‘A year since journalist Basheer’s death: No trial yet, accused IAS officer back in service.’KM Basheer, who was the Thiruvananthapuram bureau chief of regional daily Siraj, died after getting hit by a high-speeding car allegedly driven by Venkitaraman in the wee hours of August 4, 2019. The report noted, “Although eyewitnesses said that Sriram was behind the wheel and was in an inebriated state when he stepped out of the car, there was a major lapse in initiating the immediate legal proceedings, which eventually weakened the case.” Reportedly, there were allegations that police had extended all support to save the IAS officer from the case. Venkitaraman blood samples were taken for testing for alcohol only after over eight hours. The chargesheet in the case was also filed after six months. A report by Mathrubhumi, dated September 27, 2021, also noted that the case was initially investigated by Museum police and their apathy in collecting evidence weakened the case. Read the full report <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/journalist-basheer-s-death-hearing-on-chargesheet-to-begin-on-november-1-1.6040876">here</a>. The officer is also accused of tampering with the evidence in the case. You can read other reports on the protests<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kerala-muslim-jamaat-holds-protest-against-appointment-of-alappuzha-collector-101659208489805.html"> here</a>, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/ap-sunni-s-muslim-jamaat-protests-against-appointment-of-sriram-venkitaraman-as-alappuzha-collector-1.7744454">here</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://theprint.in/india/kerala-muslim-jamaat-holds-protest-against-appointment-of-sriram-venkitaraman-as-alappuzha-district-collector/1062031/">here</a>.Venkitaraman was <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/kerala-ias-officer-sriram-venkitaraman-who-ran-over-journalist-reinstated-2199582">reinstated </a>by the Kerala government and appointed as the Joint secretary in the health department in March 2020 after a few months of suspension.Congress &amp; Other Organisations Also ProtestedNotably, KM Basheer worked for a local newspaper Siraj Daily which is considered to be a mouthpiece of All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheikhaboobacker/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egoogle%2Ecom%2F&amp;originalSubdomain=in">Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad </a>who is the General Secretary of the Ulama is also the Publisher of Siraj Daily, explaining the protests by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/protest-against-appointment-of-sriram-venkitaraman-as-collector/article65703839.ece">Sunni groups </a>like Jamaath against Sriram’s appointment.However, Jamaath was not the sole torch bearer of these protests. There were a series of protests across the state against the appointment of Venkitaraman as Alappuzha’s District Collector helmed by different organisations.The <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/congress-intensifies-stir-against-sriram-venkitaramans-appointment-as-alappuzha-collector/article65681174.ece">Congress</a> had staged a dharna in front of the District Collectorate to protest the appointment of Sriram Venkitaraman as the District Collector of Alappuzha on July 25, 2022.<img src="https://images.factly.in/dega/english/2022/8/eve7.jpeg" alt="">Screenshot of Facebook post by @aashukkooralappuzhaIt was organised by the District Congress Committee and was inaugurated by KPCC general secretary <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/aashukkooralappuzha/posts/pfbid0GSjSJjn9z5VzT1picFmouwZGETWtpeooaHJmgouSAKuE5kFCakNQRYzt8fgWbvAql">AA Shukhoor</a> who also said that Venkitaraman is a tainted bureaucrat. He urged the State government to immediately revoke his appointment as Collector.On July 26, 2022 when Venkitaraman assumed the office of Alappuzha district collector,  <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/07/26/sriram-venkitaraman-alappuzha-collector.html">Youth Congress activists</a> waved black flags at him as his car entered the collectorate premisesLeader of opposition V D Satheesan had also condemned this appointment. The Congress leader had<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/kerala-govt-removes-sriram-as-alappuzha-district-collector-after-protests/articleshow/93285804.cms"> said </a>that the government’s decision was improper, and the government was trying to save Venkitaraman from the very beginning itself, when he became involved in the drunken driving case.Reportedly <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/sriram-venkitaraman-removed-within-a-week-of-appointment-owing-to-massive-protests-1.7750227">UDF </a>had also announced a demonstration in front of the collectorate on August 6 from 10 am to 6 pm, to pressurise the government to remove Sriram.Not only the opposition, journalists also carried out protests against the government’s decision to appoint Venkitaraman as Alappuzha district collector. The  <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBj2zEgl_XI">Kerala Union of Working Journalists</a> (KUWJ) held a protest march in Alappuzha outside the district collectorate on July 27, 2022. Newschecker reached out to KUWJ Outgoing President  K P Reji who told us about the Union’s protests at different headquarters over the appointment of Venkitaraman. Reji said that the KUWJ was involved in the matter from day -1. When Sriram’s suspension was revoked by the government, Reji said that the Union “held several protest meetings, gave representation to the government, issued public statements against the appointment and some social media campaigns.” The opposition front had also protested against the same, he added.The Union also protested against Venkitaraman’s appointment as Alappuzha district collector. Reji said, “Firstly we conducted a collectorate march at Alappuzha, then a secretariat march and collectorate march at various district headquarters.”  He further told us that the Union was planning to observe a state-wide protest on August 3, to commemorate the death anniversary of Basheer as well as against Sriram’s appointment, however since the government revoked the appointment so the protest was cancelled.He said that various organisations were against the appointment. “I think… almost all the organisations except the ruling front constituents had  opposed the appointment..” Reji said. The Congress was the first one to hold a protest against the same.Reji also clarified that there was no communal angle to the protest. He also shared several photos and videos from the KUWJ’s protest across the state. The same can be seen below.<img src="https://images.factly.in/dega/english/2022/8/reji-copy.jpeg" alt="">Images of KUWJ’s protest in Alappuzha, Kozhikode and Thrisoor shared by KP Reji with Newschecker teamReportedly, the<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kerala-muslim-jamaat-holds-protest-against-appointment-of-alappuzha-collector-101659208489805.html"> Indian Cultural Forum</a> (ICF) also held protest rallies against Sriram’s appointment.  What Happened After The Protests?Following the massive state-wide protests, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/kerala-govt-removes-tarnished-ias-officer-as-district-collector-1132193.html">Kerala government </a>on Monday revoked Sriram’s appointment as Alappuzha district collector and he was moved to the Kerala Civil Supplies Corporation as the general manager.<h2>Conclusion</h2>Viral posts claiming to show members of a particular community protesting against the appointment of Hindu IAS officer in Kerala have been shared out of context giving communal colour to the incident.<h2>Result: Missing Context</h2>Sources<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.justdial.com/photos/poly-dental-clinic--malappuram-sekiu-pc-82167136-sco-99r1biiv">Justdial </a> Report By <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/07/31/protest-against-sriram-appointment-alappuzha-collector.html">Onmanorama</a>, Dated July 31, 2022 Report By <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/jul/31/thousands-take-part-in-protests-against-ias-srirams-posting-2482458.html">The New Indian Express</a>, Dated July 31, 2022 Report By <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/congress-intensifies-stir-against-sriram-venkitaramans-appointment-as-alappuzha-collector/article65681174.ece">The Hindu</a>, Dated July 25, 2022 Self Analysis Telephonic Conversation With KUWJ Outgoing President  K P Reji On August 3, 2022 <hr>If you would like us to fact check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 ​or email us at ​checkthis@newschecker.in​. You can also visit the Contact Us​ page and fill the form.

Article

Protests Against Appointment Of Hindu Brahmin IAS Officer As District Collector In Kerala? Know The Truth Here

A text message is being widely shared on WhatsApp and social media platforms, which warns users of a new scam called SIM Swap Fraud. According to the viral message, users targeted with this fraud briefly lose their network connectivity before they receive a phone call from their ‘service provider’ asking them to enter certain numbers to get their mobile operation to resume. Newschecker found that the viral message is misleading, and does not paint the true picture.

Newschecker received the viral message on our WhatsApp tipline (+91 9999499044) to be fact checked. 

We also found several users sharing the claim on Facebook with similar captions.

Pills In Luppo Cakes? Old Hoax Resurfaces, Yet Again

We started our investigation by conducting a keyword search on Google along with the words “SIM Swap Fraud” and found several media reports warning users of the scam. One such 

 uploaded on their website on 12th February, 2018 titled ‘‘I Lived a Nightmare:’ SIM Hijacking Victims Share Their Stories’.

According to the report, a SIM swap, at its most basic, is when someone gets your carrier to transfer your phone number to a SIM card they own. They aren’t doing it to conceal prank calls or run up long-distance fees. Scammers can quickly complete the text-based two-factor authentication procedures that guard your most sensitive accounts by redirecting your incoming messages. Or, if you don’t already have two-factor enabled, they may be able to deceive services into divulging your passwords by using your phone number.

fact-check by a tech based website called Tech Arp

 titled ‘Can SIM Swap Attack Empty Bank Accounts Without Warning?’ uploaded on their website on 16th January, 2022.

Explaining that SIM swap attacks do exist, and are extremely hazardous, the article details that they do not function in the way the viral message suggests.

In the majority of SIM swap scams, con artists ask for a SIM card replacement by using your personal information, “which they have either stolen from you, bought from other criminals, or gained through prior phishing scams or other forms of social engineering”. 

“The scammer doesn’t need you to do anything … Most of the time, it’s not until you can no longer access your cell number that you realise you’ve been struck,” reads the report.

Does your bank account immediately get swiped clean?

, Steven Andrés, an instructor in the graduate program in homeland security at San Diego State University said that in most cases, victims don’t even realise their SIMs have been changed until it is too late, Andrés stated, as opposed to being duped over the phone and prompted to hit a button to start a malicious swap.

Andres further stated that the current phone’s SIM will just read “No Carrier” without making a notification. Both receiving and placing phone calls will be impossible for you but it does not, however, imply that your bank accounts will suddenly be swiped clean. The scammers need to be in possession of other details such as your bank login. The swapping of sim cards aids them in completing the text-based two-factor authentication procedures that guard your most sensitive accounts by redirecting your incoming messages. Or, if you don’t already have two-factor enabled, they may be able to deceive services into divulging your passwords by using your phone number.

So what about entering values that the scammer asks you to? 

 explains that entering the digit 1 can be somewhat true, however it only occurs under certain conditions. “The scammer will call the victim, claiming to be from their mobile service provider, and will try to get the victim to reveal his/her 20-digit SIM card number. The scammer will then use the 20-digit SIM number to initiate a SIM swap with the mobile service provider. The mobile service provider will automatically send an SMS to confirm the swap. Once the victim confirms the swap, his/her SIM card will stop working. The scammer now has access to the victim’s mobile number,” the article further explains.

Newschecker’s investigation revealed that the viral forward about SIM Swap fraud is partly false. If the user is targeted by a SIM card swap fraud, their bank accounts will not be emptied immediately as is claimed, as scammers need to know the user’s bank logins and passwords through other phishing scams. SIM card swap will only allow scammers to intercept OTPs to complete transactions.

Here’s The Truth Behind The Viral SIM Swap Fraud

Several social media users are circulating a video, claiming that Rahul Gandhi and other Congress party leaders were coming out drunk from a bar in Kerala. Gandhi is currently in the state as part of the party’s five-month-long journey across India called Bharat Jodo Yatra. The leader on Thursday resumed the 15th day of the yatra, which entered Kerala on September 10, from a college in Ernakulam district. The yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, is set to cover a 

 and is scheduled to conclude in Jammu and Kashmir. The viral video has various social media users mocking the march, calling it “Bar Jodo Yatra”.

The archived versions of the tweets can be seen 

On conducting a keyword search for the video on Facebook, Newschecker came across a Facebook post, attaching the same video, by a user 

. The description stated that the ‘bar’ in the video is actually an eatery owned by one Ansar in Oachira.

Enquiring further, we came across another Facebook post by one 

, who shared a photo of Gandhi eating at Malabar Hotel in Oachira, Kollam. Kollam is a southern district in Kerala, which Gandhi had already crossed as part of the yatra close to a week ago.

From this post, we learnt that the hotel was established 75 years ago by a long-time Congress supporter and it is now being run by Ansar, the founder’s son. 

We then contacted Ansar, who said, “Rahul Gandhi and some other leaders came here for breakfast around 7:30 in the morning, which can be clearly seen on our CCTV footage. It is a hotel frequented by the public for meals. Neither do we have a bar, nor do we serve liquor here. As there is a small step on the way out of the hotel, some of the leaders stumbled there, making it seem like they were swaying drunk.”

Congress leader K Muraleedharan stumbles near the step.

CCTV footage shows Congress leaders eating

The hotel owner also shared with Newschecker the CCTV footage showing Gandhi and other Congress workers eating food. It can be seen that the Congress workers are not drinking at the hotel, confirming that no consumption of liquor happened at this particular eatery.

and found it to match the viral video and CCTV footage.

Pictures of the eatery from restaurantguru.in

While our investigation has revealed that no alcohol was served in Malabar Hotel, where Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders stopped for breakfast, there are multiple variables here that cannot be fact checked. Hence it is not possible to verify if any of the Congress leaders or workers consumed alcohol in any other instance outside the hotel.

CCTV visuals from Malabar Hotel on September 17,2022

Telephone conversation with Ansar owner of Malabar Hotels

With reporting inputs from Kerala by Sabloo Thomas.

If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback, or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 

Our investigation revealed that no alcohol was served in Malabar Hotel, where Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders stopped for breakfast during the party's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Bharat Jodo Yatra: Did Rahul Gandhi, Congress Leaders Get Drunk At ‘Kerala Bar’? Here’s What We Found

A 50-second-long-video showing a person unwrapping a mini-cake bar and breaking it apart to reveal pills hidden inside, is going viral on social media platforms. A person can be heard speaking in the background in Kashmiri, “The people who have conscience will share this video, those who don’t will not. Your one share will save someone’s life. This video I received from a friend who requested me to share this. This is lopo chocolate and see the pills in this. This can be hazardous for someone’s health.”

 Several users shared the video with the caption “Medicine pills found in LOPO chocolates.”

Screenshot of Facebook post by @malikthejournalist

Screenshot of Facebook post by @knewshour

Screenshot of Facebook post by @Officialll786

Newschecker has debunked the same claim in 

Video On Presence Of Cockroaches In Chocolates Is Misleading

On carefully analysing the video, we spotted “Luppo” written on the wrapper of the cake, and not “Lopo” as the claims mention. Following this, we looked up keywords “Luppo cake pills” on Facebook and found that the video has been in circulation since 

 with slightly varied claims about the pills in the cake. 

A clearer version of the video was also uploaded on

 in November 2019 with the title “Şölen Luppo cakes with pills?” In this video, we were able to spot a crack in the middle of the cake. Additionally, the person very hastily crumbles one part of the cake, while being very careful with the other side where pills can be seen. This raises questions; did the person already know the exact spot where the pills were “hidden,” and why was the “hunt” immediately halted after two tablets were found? Was the person aware that there were no more pills?

Notably, Luppo is a brand by Turkish company 

. We came across a two-year-old article by Turkish fact checking organisation 

 verifying the viral video. It stated, “When the video is carefully examined, the deformation in the cake is noticed. The product is not sold in Turkey, it is an export product and the results of the inspections are clean. “ 

Further, Teyit was also able to trace the original source of the video to an Iraqi YouTube channel, Wishe Press. It also pointed out that “another product exported from Turkey seen in the video is Aspiliç, belonging to As Tavukçuluk. As Tavukçuluk’s biggest export market is Iraq, which further strengthens the possibility that this video was shot in Iraq.”

that a spokesperson for Sölen confirmed that that particular product is only sold in Iraq.

 in 2019 which led to a boycott attempt of its product in Northern Iraq. “It is stated that the reason for the emergence of such videos may be attempts to boycott (Turkish products),” Teyit noted. 

 post by Erbil Health Protection Affairs Directorate, dated November 6, 2019- around the time when the video first surfaced- clarifying “that the sample of the cake (Luppo cake) has been tested in the laboratory and is edible.”

The same was also highlighted in the Teyit report, “the production processes of food products undergo both internal and independent inspection . No findings were found in the laboratory results of independent inspectors for Şölen Chocolate.”

Viral claim that there are pills in Luppo cakes is not true. The video has been in circulation for the past three years and has been debunked multiple times.

If you would like us to fact check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the 

Fact Check

A video showing officials, purportedly from the Enforcement Directorate, counting wads of cash using a counting machine even as mounds of currency of notes are seen piled up on the side, is being widely shared on social media. Users sharing the video claimed it to be an ED raid on the property of “Shekhar Agarwal, an AAP leader from Surat, Gujarat”. The claims come amid the party’s busy campaigning in the state for the Assembly elections due  later this year. Newschecker has found the claim to be false.

Newschecker began by looking up reports of any such raid with the keywords “raid AAP Shekhar Agarwal”, which did not throw up any relevant news reports. 

On closely analysing the video, Newschecker observed that the language heard in the viral video was Bengali, and not Gujarati. We then ran a reverse image search of keyframes of the video, which led us to this news report on 

from India Today, titled “Mobile Gaming App Scam: ED Recovers Massive Cash From Kolkata Businessman Linked To E-Nuggets App”. 

Uploaded on September 11, 2022, the description of the video read, “The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at six locations in Kolkata while probing an alleged case of fraud through a mobile gaming app. A team of ED officials, accompanied by bank officials, raided the premises of businessman Aamir Khan in the Garden Reach area of Kolkata on Saturday and seized Rs 7 crore in cash and property documents. The raid is underway and cash counting machines were brought in to ascertain the exact amount of cash recovered.”

Taking a cue, Newschecker then ran a Google search on the keywords “ED raid Aamir Khan Kolkata”, which led us to multiple news reports from the past week, including 

 According to NDTV report, dated September 11, 2022, a search operation by ED led to the recovery of over ₹ 17 crore from the premises of a businessman in Kolkata. The anti-money laundering agency raided six locations in Kolkata including one in Garden Reach area, where the ED brought in cash-counting machines to count the amount recovered. “The search started on Saturday morning at the premises of Aamir Khan, who ED officials say is not cooperating with the agency. The counting of cash ended on Sunday morning,” the report read. We observed that the video used in the news report, too, is the same viral clip.

A comparison of screenshots of the viral clip (top), the NDTV report (bottom right) and the India Today video (bottom left).

Also, barring the viral claims, we could not find any indication that a member of the party by the name “Shekhar Agarwal” existed. We also looked up the party’s official website that also did not have any mention of such a member. We then reached out to AAP regarding this. We will update the article once a response is received. 

Viral video of ED raids on Kolkata businessman’s house falsely claimed to be “raid on AAP leader’s house in Surat”.

Viral Video Showing ED Raid Is From Kolkata, Not ‘Surat AAP Leader’s Home’

In wake of the rise in child lifting rumours across India, several Kashmir based social media platforms are sharing a video claiming to show four non-locals who were held after an alleged attempt to kidnap children in Lar area of Ganderbal in Kashmir. Newschecker has found that the claim is false. 

Video Showing Child Kidnapping On Cam Is Scripted

Facebook page JK live was among the pages that shared the video with the caption “In a Shocking incident villagers in Ganderbal captured 4 non locals who were attempting to kidnap children in a car. Police team reached the spot, arrested all 4 and seized their vehicle also. #Kashmir

Several other pages also shared the same video with similar claims. You can see the posts 

Increase In Misinformation Surrounding Child theft

The number of claims on WhatsApp and social media alleging child theft/kidnap children has seen a spike in the recent days. In Maharashtra’s Sangli, a group of sadhus who were travelling to Pandharpur were stopped and 

Tv Channels Run Visuals From Old Theft Incident In MP Falsely Linking Them To Recent Attack On Sadhus In Sangli

in UP’s Indrawar were suspected to be child lifters by local villagers and handed over to the police. Several users later shared the video of the men in police custody with false allegation that they were trying to kidnap children and selling their organs.

Scripted videos showing men kidnap children have also seen a rise in the recent past, with many of them being shared as authentic, triggering panic and concern among netizens.

Newschecker began investigating the claim by conducting a google search with keywords ‘non-locals kidnap children in Ganderbal’ and found several reports denying the claim. You can read them 

 reported that the police refuted the claim of non-locals being caught kidnapping children in Ganderbal.

“Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday refuted reports claiming kidnapping of a minor child by some unknown non-locals in Yanihama locality of Lar in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district” the report read. According to the report the non-locals held were begging in the area and were neither involved in kidnapping or theft. 

Speaking to the media, Nikhil Borkar, SSP Ganderbal, said that the group was visiting from Punjab and going from home-to-home seeking alms when locals suspected them of being child kidnappers.

“We rushed to the spot after we received the information and took 4 people into custody. During the investigation we found that these men beg for a living. Eyewitness told us that they did not make any attempt to kidnap any children, and that they just asked for water and rice. We also called the owner of the house which they visited who denied any act of kidnapping. Panic was created only after some social media platforms began circulating the video. We request all social media users to verify the cases which have a criminal angle with the police before sharing it” the SSP said.

Police also warned social media users from circulating fake news that non-locals were trying to kidnap children. “Whosoever shall be involved in circulating such fake and baseless news shall be held under relevant sections of law,” the Ganderbal police said on the official twitter handle of district police.

We also reached out to local journalist Firdous Ahmad Khan who confirmed that the non locals apprehended were not child lifters, but beggars. 

“The non-locals approached a homeowner asking if they wanted his fortune told. The house owner asked them to leave the premises. As they were leaving, local residents gathered around, suspecting them of kidnapping children and started beating them. Some locals informed the police,” Firdous clarified.

Newschecker investigation revealed that the news of non-locals allegedly attempting to kidnap children in J&K’s Ganderbal is false.

Phonic conversation with Journalist Firdous Ahmad

Non-Local Child Lifters Apprehended At Kashmir’s Ganderbal? No, Viral Claim Is False  

Image shows Beef Biryani recipe mix by Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved.

Screenshot of Facebook post by @swamdogofficial

Newschecker scanned through the official website of Patanjali Ayurved to ascertain whether the firm offers any such product or not. We looked up words like “Beef,” “Beef Biryani, “ Beef Biryani Recipe Mix,” on the website but did not find any such offering listed in their online catalogue.

Further, we noticed that  none of the products seen in

 website featured ‘Ramdev’ written on their packages as seen in the viral image. Additionally, the colour schema of Patanjali’s trademark seen in the viral image is different from that of the firm’s authentic logo.

(L-R) Images of products listed on the official website of Patanjali Ayurved and viral image

Following this, we conducted a Google reverse image search on the viral image which led to a product listed on the website of 

On comparing the viral image with the National Beef Biryani Recipe Mix, we found several similarities in the packaging and could conclude that “Ramdev” and “Patanjali” were digitally added to the photo of  Biryani recipe mix listed on National Foods website. 

(L-R) Viral image and screenshot of Beef Biryani Recipe Mix by National Foods

Further, on carefully analysing the viral image we spotted the word ‘SATIRE’ written on the right side of the package. It is likely that the photo was altered in an attempt to mock the brand.

If you liked this and want to read more such fact checks then click 

Beef Biryani Recipe Mix By Ramdev’s Patanjali? Edited Photo Goes Viral

Political leaders from J&K accused the central government of pushing the “Hindutva agenda” in J&K soon after a video went viral on social media, allegedly showing students and teachers in a school in Kashmir singing a ‘Hindu hymn’.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti was among those who shared the video in a tweet, stating “Jailing religious scholars, shutting down Jama Masjid & directing school kids here to sing Hindu hymns exposes the real hindutva agenda of GOI in Kashmir. Refusing these rabid dictates invites PSA & UAPA. It is the cost that we are paying for this so-called “Badalta J&K”.

Senior leader and state spokesperson of the National Conference, Imran Nabi Dar, also shared the same video, questioning whether the educational institutions in Kashmir have been turned into a “political tool”.

We found that the same video was posted by many others on social media along with claiming that “Modi’s Hindutva regime is forcing Muslim children to chant Hindu devotional songs”. You can check the tweets 

Facebook users also shared the same video terming the video as worrying for Kashmir. A Facebook user Syed Sana, has 

 that has garnered over 90K views, 644 comments and 2.1k shares.

The video is also shared on YouTube as shown below.

On closely analysing the viral video, one can see a board right in the first few frames of the video. It clearly reads ‘Govt High School, Nagam, Kulgam’. It also states “Zone: D.H. Pora” and ‘Estt 1950’, suggesting it has been running for over 70 years. Nagam area is located in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. 

Speaking to Newschecker, Gulzar Ahmad Beig, the deputy headmaster of the school, confirmed that the viral video was indeed recorded inside the school premises and revealed that the singing was part of the preparations for the upcoming Gandhi Jayanti celebrations. “Different activities were slated to be held in the run-up to Gandhi Jayanti on October 2. This was being held as per a government directive,” he told Newschecker.

We further contacted the Chief Education Officer of Kulgam, Mohammad Ashraf Rather, who confirmed that the activity happened as per government directive. “This is part of a prayer for the upcoming Gandhi Jayanti event, which is to be celebrated on October 2. Govt has directed all govt schools to prepare for the Gandhi Jayanti,” Md Ashraf told us.

Activity schedule as per government order for the preparation of Gandhi Jayanti

‘Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram’ A Hindu Hymn?

, it is a famous devotional hymn originally written by 17th-century Vaishnava poet Lakshmanacharya. It was later modified by Mahatma Gandhi and was used during the Dandi march. The full lyrics of the hymn can be read on the 

 of Gandhi Sevagram Ashram, which was founded by Mahatama Gandhi in 1936 in Maharashtra, under the title of ‘Gandhiji’s Favourite Hymns’.

The third stanza of Gandhi’s version of the hymn reads ‘Ishwar Allah Tero Nam, Sabako Sanmati De Bhagawan’ which translates to ‘Iswar and Allah are your names / May God bestow wisdom on all’ indicating the secular nature of the hymn.

Experiments with Truth: Gandhi and Images of Nonviolence

, historian and author Vinay Lal writes, “Narayan Desai, the son of Gandhi’s beloved secretary, Mahadev Desai, spent some years of his childhood around Gandhi and later recalled that the Ramdhun seemed to have become popular during the Salt March and the subsequent civil disobedience movement, and it continues to resonate strongly, and not only among devout Hindus, in contemporary India.” 

“Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and the practitioners of other faiths may all know God by different names, but Gandhi did not doubt that behind this multifariousness in form there was one essential unity”, Lal writes. 

Further research highlights the secular pitch of the song. “Clearly modified with a view to spreading the message of reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims, the song was set to tune by the renowned musicologist, Vishnu Digambar Paluskar,” reads a report on the famous hymn published by 

The claim that ‘Govrnment of India is pushing Hindutva agenda by forcing Muslim students in Kashmir to sing a “Hindu” hymn is misleading. The video shows students and teachers preparing for the upcoming Gandhi Jayanti celebrations based on the directive from the UT administration. Further, the Ramdhun is considered a secular, all-faith prayer popularised by Mahatma Gandhi. 

 website accessed on 20th September 2022 

 report dated 2nd October 2019. Archived Link 

3. Statement of Chief Education Officer, Kulgam as stated in a phone conversation with Newschecker.

4. Statement of Deputy Headmaster of the school, as stated in a phone conversation with Newschecker.

Hindu Hymn In Kashmir School? Here Is What We Found About The Row

Hours following her detention by Iran’s dreaded morality police for allegedly violating the hijab regulations, Mahsa Amini, 22, went into a coma. Witnesses accused the police of beating her. Mahsa Amini has since passed away. In this context, a video of a police officer manhandling a woman before dragging her into a police car, is going viral on social media claiming to show police brutality against Mahsa Amini in Iran for violating hijab rules.

We started our investigation by conducting a reverse search of the key-frames of the video on Google to verify its authenticity and found a

 uploaded on their website on 17th May, 2022 titled ‘Reactions to the police encounter with a woman in the Letyan dam’ when translated from Arabic via Google translate.

The report contained the same video which is viral now posted on 7th May, 2022 along with the caption ‘The broadcast of the video of the arrest of a woman near the Letyan Dam, which was accompanied by a sharp collision #پلیس , led to a reaction and the issuing of a special order by the head of the Tehran police.’ when translated via Google translate.

Newschecker conducted a keyword search with the words “Letyan Dam”, “woman arrested”, “police” and found a

 titled ‘The violent arrest of a woman in Letyan Dam; The agents were arrested, the police force: Grass was discovered in the car’ when translated via Google translate uploaded on their website on 8th May, 2022.

According to the report, in the video, a plainclothes police officer attempted to arrest a lady using physical force and aggression, which resulted in her falling to the ground. They were assisted by two more police officers.

This video received a lot of attention and negative feedback after it was shared on social media several times.

The report also stated that the Tehran Police Information Centre stated Tuesday, May 17, 2022 that Hossein Rahimi, the chief of the capital’s police, had given the required directives to follow up on this incident following the release of this video.

According to Murad Moradi, a deputy social police officer for Greater Tehran, the apprehended women were found to have “quantities of drugs of the grass kind (marijuana)” in their automobile.

Newschecker also checked the official Instagram account of BBC Persian where we found the video uploaded on 7th May, 2022.

Viral Video Claiming To Show Mahsa Amini Being Attacked By Iran's Morality Police Is False

A black-and-white video showing the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, being honoured in what appears to be an  official ceremony, is going viral on social media platforms. Addressing Jawaharlal Nehru, a man wearing a ceremonial gown can be heard saying, “…as Chamberlain of this City to offer you both the right hand of fellowship and greet you Mr Nehru as a citizen of London and you Mr Holland…” The video has prompted social media users to believe that India’s first PM had taken London’s citizenship. Newschecker found that claim to be misleading.

Several Twitter and Facebook users shared the video with the caption “How many people know that Nehru took citizenship of London in 1956 and took oath to be true to the Queen of England?”

Screenshot of Facebook post by @ankushsos