Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Anu Beniwal, who qualified UPSC under EWS category, is the daughter of an IPS officer.
Fact
IPS Anu Beniwal clarified to us that the viral claim is false. IPS Sanjay Baniwal is not her father. They, however, belong to the same village.
Allegations against trainee IAS officer Pooja Khedkar over submission of fake disability and caste certificates have blown up on social media, and has drawn attention to more cases of alleged fraud by many other IAS/IPS officers, who are accused of misusing reservation quotas for UPSC qualification.
In this backdrop, multiple users alleged that Anu Beniwal, a 2022 batch IPS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, used the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota for selection to the Union Public Services despite being daughter of an IPS officer. Newschecker, however, found that Beniwal’s father is not with the IPS.
Several social media users shared a photograph of Beniwal pointing at the name of Sanjay Baniwal, a 1989 batch IPS officer, along with a screengrab from a document – Civil Service Examination 2021-Service allocation, listing her under the EWS category. They further alleged that Anu Beniwal misused the EWS quota as her father is already an IPS officer.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Candidates belonging to EWSs who are not covered under the Scheme of reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs and whose annual family income is below Rs. 8 Lakhs, are entitled to 10% reservation in direct recruitment in Civil Posts and services in government.
Fact Check/Verification
We noticed that the users levying allegations against IPS Anu Beniwal were using a purported screengrab of her Instagram post. However, on skimming through her Instagram account, we couldn’t find any such post.
We spotted a post, dated July 14, 2024, featuring a photograph of her parents. “Mummy papa, I’m extremely fortunate that I have you as my parents. In spite of the fact that you people couldn’t even complete your school education, you pushed me to accomplish my dream,” it stated.
Notably, IPS Sanjay Baniwal (whose name she can be seen pointing at in the viral image) was the Director General (Prisons) at Tihar Jail, and retired from service earlier this year.
A comparison of the image of her father in the Instagram post and the image of IPS Sanjay Baniwal clearly shows that the two are different individuals.
We then looked up “Anu Beniwal,” and “father” on Google which led us to a report by MP Breaking News, dated July 18, 2024. The article reported Anu Beniwal’s reaction to the controversy, where she clarified that IPS Sanjay Baniwal is not her father, though they are namesake. While IPS Baniwal is not her blood relative, they belong to the same village, she further clarified.
“My father’s name is also Sanjay Beniwal. However, he is not an IPS officer, but a farmer,” Dainik Bhaskar quoted her as saying. She added that her father did not even go to school, and has been suffering from heart ailments, and hearing loss.
Anu Beniwal further informed that she comes from the same village as IPS Sanjay Baniwal. “The whole village calls him (IPS Sanjay Baniwal) Tau, and that’s why I also call him Tau (uncle),” she reportedly said.
Notably, her alleged post where Anu Beniwal is pointing at Sanjay Baniwal’s name was also captioned, “Tauji, many many congratulations for the second innings on your retirement…” as can be seen in the viral screenshot.
Newschecker then reached out to IPS Beniwal who dismissed the claims. “He (IPS Sanjay Baniwal) is not from my family. He comes from the same village, and he is my role model,” she said.
Multiple news reports had stated that IPS Beniwal’s father is a farmer. However, she categorically denied the same, and told us that her father was into business earlier with her uncle, but is currently facing multiple health ailments.
She also told us that the viral screengrab of a social media post showing her pointing at IPS Sanjay Baniwal’s name on board, was in fact from her Instagram profile. However, the same has been archived for now.
Also Read: Donald Trump’s Son Barron Was Not Present At Campaign Rally When He Was Shot
Conclusion
Hence, the viral claim that IPS Anu Beniwal’s father is with the Indian Police Services is false.
Result: False
Sources
Instagram Post By IPS Anu Beniwal, Dated July 14, 2024
X Post By @ANI, Dated April 30, 2024
Telephonic Conversation With IPS Anu Beniwal On July 18, 2024
(Update: This article was updated on July 20, 2024. The initial article mentioned both the fact that her father used to run a business and that he was a farmer. Upon internal review, the article was updated to remove a line which mentioned that he was a farmer.)
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
