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
Video shows ₹5 crore seized from close aide of Shiv Sena MLA in poll-bound Maharashtra.
Fact
Video dates back to at least 2021.
Several social media users, including verified profiles, shared a video showing stacks of currency notes, claiming to show the money recovered from an associate of an MLA of the ruling Shiv Sena in poll-bound Maharashtra. The assembly election in the state is scheduled to be held on November 20.
The video is being shared on X, Facebook and Instagram to show “Rs 5 crore seized from a close aide of an MLA from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.” Newschecker, however, found that the video dates back to at least June, 2021.
Such posts can be seen here, here, and here.
Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “5 Crore,” and “Shiv Sena” on Google yielded a report by Times Of India, dated October 23, 2024, stating that the Pune Rural police seized cash worth ₹5 crore on Monday evening from a car near the Khed-Shivapur toll post, on Pune-Bengaluru highway.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and NCP (SCP) MLA Rohit Patil reportedly alleged that the money was being taken to Sangola MLA Shahaji Patil, who belongs to the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, for election funding purposes.
Patil has, however, denied such allegations, and reportedly said the vehicle belonged to one of his thousands of “karyakartas”. “…He has a few businesses, though I don’t know why or where the cash was being transported to,” MLA Patil was quoted as saying in the report.
Also Read: Viral Video Does Not Show Baba Siddique’s Shooter Justifying His Assassination
But Does The Video Show Money Recovered Ahead Of 2024 Maharashtra Polls?
We looked up keyframes of the viral footage on Google lens, which yielded an Instagram post by @haryana.zone, dated October 9, 2024. It carried the same video, proving that it predates the October 21 police action in which ₹5 crores were confiscated from a car at Khed-Shivapur toll post.
Another Instagram post from December 2023 also carried the same video.
The video was also shared on YouTube by another handle @ghanshyamponderarussian8596 on June 10, 2021.
Newschecker could not independently verify whether the seized cash was linked to MLA Patil or not. However, the viral footage has been available online since at least 2021, and does not show the ₹5 crores that were recently seized from a car in poll-bound Maharashtra.
Also Read: Video By Brazilian Digital Creator Falsely Shared As Arab Man With His Wives At Gym
Conclusion
An old video has been falsely shared to show ₹5 crores seized by the police in Maharashtra ahead of the assembly polls.
Result: Partly False
Sources
Instagram Post By @haryana.zone, Dated October 9, 2024
Instagram Post By @all_colour_prediction, Dated December 7, 2023
YouTube Video By @ghanshyamponderarussian8596, Dated June 10, 2021
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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.
