Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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
TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra’s son Subhadip Singha Mahapatra, an intern at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was involved in the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor, and is currently in hiding.
The archived version of the tweet can be seen here.
Fact
Newschecker first ran a keyword search for “Subhadip Singha Mahapatra RG Kar”, which led us to this Times of India report, dated August 17, 2024, stating that a Bankura resident had lodged a complaint that his son, Subhadip Singh Mahapatra, an intern at RG Kar Medical College, was wrongly identified on social media as the “son of minister Soumen Mahapatra who had gone missing after the Aug 9 rape-murder of an RG Kar doctor” and vilified.
“The father, Prabir Singh Mahapatra, who is a teacher at a primary school, has demanded police action against those social media profiles for false accusations that his son was involved in the rape and murder. He clarified his son was at the hospital all along, he was even questioned by police and that they had no connection with the minister. The Kolkata Police has so far sent notice to 60 online users for allegedly spreading misinformation and fake news on RG Kar rape-and-murder,” read the TOI report.
A further search led us to this News18 report, dated August 14, 2024, stating that TMC MLA Soumen Mahapatra has denied the allegations against him, and clarifying that his son’s name was Bodhisattva Mahapatra, not Shubhadip Singh and that he was working as a BMOH in a Block Health Centre, and not RG Kar. A similar HT report can be seen here.
“My son’s name is Bodhisattva Mahapatra. He passed out in 2017…The girl who died is my daughter’s age. We also want a proper investigation. I, my son and my family will give all possible help in the interest of the investigation..,” Soumen reportedly said, accusing his partymen of linking his son to the case.
According to the reports, Soumen’s wife, Sumana, who is also the president of Trinamool Congress in Panskura city, said the day the incident took place, her son was with her pregnant daughter-in-law at Apollo hospital. “Bodhisattwa is currently working as BMOH of Panskura-1 Block Health Centre. Such fake posts may harm our family,” Soumen told ABPLive. The press conference can be seen here.
We then came across this clarification on Facebook by the West Bengal Police, dated August 16, 2024, dismissing the viral claims, stating that Subhadip’s father, Prabir Singh Mahapatra, is a teacher at a primary school.
“Subhadip is not missing either. He has been in hospital since the day of the incident. Kolkata police also spoke to him during the investigation,” read the post, translated from Bangla. The police shared a video statement from Prabir Singha Mahapatra, who clarified that he and his family do not know Soumen Mahapatra personally, while adding that he had filed an FIR at the Tala Police Station in Kolkata regarding the false claims.
“One of the many imaginary and baseless rumours circulating on social media was that an intern, Subhadip Singh Mahapatra, went missing after the crime and that he was a state minister’s son. It was claimed he was being shielded as he belonged to an influential family. Subhadip’s photo spread like wildfire on FB, labelling him as the ‘real culprit’. A trial by social media ensued. Now, FIRs have been filed at the Tala police station and Sarenga PS in Bankura against wrong information,” the TOI report quoted a senior officer as saying.
Also Read: Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Image Claiming To Show Man Who Beheaded His Sister’s Rapist
Result: False
Sources
TOI report, August 17, 2024
HT report, August 14, 2024
Facebook post, West Bengal police, August 16, 2024
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
