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.
A video has recently gone viral, showing an interview with one “Rashid Khan” from Bulandshahr, justifying the actions of Aaftab Poonawala, who is accused of murdering his live-in partner Shraddha Walkar. The video has been shared by several social media users, including verified handles, with communally charged claims over the heinous murder case.
The archived versions of the tweets can be seen here and here.
Fact check
Newschecker first ran a keyword search for “Rashid Khan Bulandshahr”, which led us to multiple news reports stating that a UP man was held for objectionable remarks on video.
According to an Indian Express report, dated November 26, 2022, the man, who had identified himself as Rashid Khan in the video and made inflammatory statements to justify the murder, was arrested by the Bulandshahr police on Friday (November 25) for deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings. The man’s real name was found out to be Vikas Kumar.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bulandshahr, Shlok Kumar reportedly said, “Two days back, a video came to light in which a youth, who claimed to be Rashid Khan, was found making objectionable comments. A case was filed at the Sikandrabad police station.” The SSP added that on Friday, the police took the person into custody and during questioning, he identified himself as Vikas Kumar.
“In the preliminary inquiry, the police found out five cases against the accused — two in Bulandshahr and three in Gautam Budh Nagar. The cases filed against him are of theft and under the Arms Act. The video was shot in Delhi,” he added
Similar news reports can be seen here, here and here, all of them confirming that the man in the video is Vikas Kumar, a native of Bulandshahr. When asked for his motive, Vikas reportedly said that he didn’t know it would blow up so much else he wouldn’t have done it. “I fear I will be killed, either here or in prison,” he said, when asked if he regrets his actions. When the police asked why he faked his name in the video, Vikas said that people laughed at him as, according to them, his “face didn’t match his name”.
We also came across this tweet by Bulandshahr Police, confirming the case and arrest of Vikas Kumar.
Conclusion
The real identity of the man, seen justifying the gruesome murder of Shraddha Walkar in a viral interview, has been found to be Vikas Kumar from Bulandshahr.
Result: False
Sources
Indian Express report, November 26, 2022
Tweet by Bulandshahr Police,.November 25, 2022
(The headline of the article has been updated on 30/11/2022)
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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.
