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.
Newly elected Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is no stranger to controversy and with his elevation to the highest post in the state, he will be under greater scrutiny than ever before with people sharing their opinions and old posts on social media.
A photograph showing a seemingly disorient young Mann sitting on the ground with three others is being shared widely on social media claiming the image to be photographic evidence of Mann’s arrest in a bike robbery case over a decade ago. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue.
The image is being widely shared on Twitter.
Newschecker also received the same image on our WhatsApp tipline (+91-9999499044 ) requesting to be fact checked.
Bhagwant Mann was sworn in as the Punjab CM on March 16, 2022 and has subsequently been in news for his government’s ‘big’ decisions on several issues including pension payments to ex-MLAs, education and the recent assembly resolution seeking immediate transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab.
Since Mann was announced the chief ministerial candidate by the AAP in Punjab, the comedian-turned-politician has repeatedly been targeted on social media platforms with misleading and false content. Newschecker debunked several false information about the Punjab CM. You can read our fact checks here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
We conducted a Google reverse image search for the viral image and found a Facebook post, dated Match 18, by Punjabi singer and actor Karamjit Anmol who had shared the viral image of Mann with the caption, “Holi memories with Bhagwant Mann & @manjitsidhu”
To know more about the viral image, we tried reaching out to Anmol but were not able to contact him. However, we were able to get in touch with the other person mentioned in Anmol’s post, who is identified as one Lally Manjit Sidhu.
Sidhu dismissed the viral claim that the image shows Mann’s arrest in a bike theft case. “The claim is fake. This image was taken in Patiala in 1994 or 1995 when Canadian singer Harbhajan Mann had come to India. The image was taken at Harbhajan Mann’s home’s terrace on Holi. Bhagwant Mann. Karamjit Anmol and Harbhajan Mann were also present there. Bhagwant Mann and I have been friends since college days,” Sidhu told Newschecker.
He also shared another version of the viral image with us.
We also checked the affidavit submitted by Mann with the Election commission and didn’t find any mention of any such case.
Conclusion
Our investigation found that the viral image claiming to show Bhagwant Mann’s arrest in a bike robbery case is actually from a Holi event.
Result: False Context/False
Sources
Facebook Profile Of Karamjit Anmol
Direct Contact With Lally Manjit Sidhu
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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.
