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
Voting fraud where the polling agent is seen casting votes on behalf of three women.
Fact
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes of the video, which led us to this Hindustan Times report on Youtube, dated May 13, 2019, headlined, “Poll agent arrested for influencing voters at Faridabad booth”.
“A polling agent was arrested for influencing voters inside a polling booth in Faridabad. A video was shared on Twitter where the man can be seen walking up to the polling booth as a woman prepares to cast her vote. He appears to press a button on the EVM machine or pointing to a party symbol and then promptly returns to his seat. District Election Office Faridabad lodged an FIR and arrested the man. The incident was reported from Asawati in Prithla constituency in Faridabad,” read the description.
A relevant keyword search led us to this NDTV report, dated May 13, 2019, on the incident, “A polling agent in Faridabad near Delhi was arrested on Sunday after he allegedly influenced voters in the sixth round of the national election. The action was taken against the official after a video on Twitter was brought to the notice of the Haryana election body,” read the report. Similar reports can be seen here and here, confirming that the viral video is not related to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Youtube video, Hindustan Times, May 13, 2019
NDTV report, May 13, 2019
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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.
