Authors
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.
A video allegedly showing a child being kidnapped in a suitcase is being shared widely on social media platforms. A fact check by Newschecker has found that the video is scripted, and not authentic.
The video begins with a man lugging a suitcase across a deserted stretch into the woods, when he is stopped by a woman who claims that she could hear crying noises from within the suitcase.
The man is seen getting defensive and claims that the suitcase has nothing but his clothes, and that he is headed home. Unconvinced, the woman is seen trying to stop the man, and is joined by a few men, who succeed in opening the suitcase to find a young girl stuffed inside.
Newschecker received the video on our WhatsApp tipline (+91 9999499044) requesting a fact check on it.
The video has also been shared by multiple user on social media platform Facebook claiming it to be authentic.
Fact check/verification
To verify the authenticity of the video, Newschecker conducted a keyword search on Facebook with the keywords ‘Child kidnapping in a suitcase’, which revealed several posts that were shared in the last 24 hours.
We further split the video into keyframes and conducted a reverse image search, which took us to a YouTube page by one Talha Qureshi that had posted the same video. On Analysing the comment section, we noticed one of the comments that flagged the post as fake and informed that the video was posted on the Facebook page Bharti Prank and the man seen wearing a red cap runs the page.
Newschecker looked up the YouTube page of Bharti Prank, and through the community section, we were able to trace the Facebook page of Raju Bharti which carried the same video with the disclaimer ‘This page features fictional videos; All characters appearing in the video are fictitious. The videos made are inspired by true events and are made with a motto to spread social awarness. We anyhow don’t mean to defame, disrespect any religion, caste, nationality, sex, gender or any individual in any manner.’
Newschecker also analysed the face of the man seen in the viral video and the display image of Raju Bharti and found them to be a a match.
Conclusion
The widely shared video of a child being kidnapped in a suitcase is scripted and has been passed off as authentic.
There has been a spate of such scripted videos being shared as authentic in the recent days. You can read our other fact checks here, here, here and here.
Result: Misleading
Source
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Authors
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.
