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'Toolkit' case accused Disha is neither a Christian nor her full name is Disha Ravi Joseph - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 18, 2021
A post claiming that climate activist Disha Ravi, who got arrested in Greta Thunberg tool kit case is actually a Christian and her full name is Disha Ravi Joseph is being widely shared on social media platforms. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: ‘Toolkit’ case accused Disha Ravi is a Christian and her full name is Disha Ravi Joseph.
Fact: According to her Voter ID information her name is ‘DISHA A RAVI’ and her father’s name is ‘RAVI ANNAPPA’. A news article reported Disha Ravi’s family and friends saying that she is a Hindu bought up in a Lingayat household, and her name is ‘DISHA ANNAPPA RAVI’. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
We ran a search on Karnataka state CEO website and accessed Disha Ravi’s voter identification information. As per the information available in this, her full name is ‘DISHA A RAVI’ and her father’s name is ‘RAVI ANNAPPA’. JOSERH is not associated with her name as per this information.
Further Google search with keywords led us to a news article which debunked the claim that Disha Ravi is a Christian. The article reported that Disha Ravi’s family confirmed that she is a Hindu, and her full name is Disha Annappa Ravi.
The article has also reported Prasanna R, a lawyer and close friend of Disha’s family stating that ‘Disha’s mother’s name is Manjula Nanjaiah, father is Ravi Annappa. They are from Tiptur in Tumkur district of Karnataka.’. She added ‘Disha has not followed any religion though she was brought up in a Lingayat household’. Further BOOM, a fact-checking agency accessed Mount Carmel College’s annual day report for the 2018 batch which lists details about all the student festivals at the college. The report quoted Ravi describing her experience at Carpe Diem, the business management festival by the Department of Business Studies. In this her name was also mentioned as Disha A. Ravi.
In the light of Disha Ravi’s arrest in ‘toolkit’ case, posts like these are being shared on social media platforms with misleading claims.
To sum it up, ‘toolkit’ case accused Disha is neither a Christian nor her full name is Disha Ravi Joseph

created: February 18, 2021


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Top 10 Busiest Airports in India - Infographic - Factly
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 22, 2015
Did you know that Kochi airport attracts more international travelers than Bengaluru, Kolkata & Hyderabad? Presenting the list of Top 10 busiest airports in India based on 2013-14 passenger data. Let us know what do you think the government should be doing in the air travel space.

source: news-factly

created: January 22, 2015

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Sai Krishna Muthyanolla


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Top 10 Sectorwise FDI Inflow in India (2000 - 2014) - Factly
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 28, 2015
There is often debate over FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) inflow and the sectors in which FDI should be allowed. Here is a look at the top 10 sectors that attracted the most FDI in the last 15 years (2000-2014). What all sectors should be opened for FDI and which ones should not be? Let us know your thoughts.

created: January 28, 2015


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Top Bonuses How They Work and How to Get the Most Out of Them - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 19, 2022
In the competitive world of online casinos, players in Canada are often welcomed with a host of attractive bonuses. From welcome offers to loyalty rewards, these promotions are designed to attract and retain players. Understanding how these bonuses work and knowing how to maximize their benefits is crucial for players looking to improve their gaming experience. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best casino bonuses in Canada that can be found on gamblizard, break down how they work, and provide information on how players can make the most of these lucrative opportunities.
Welcome bonuses serve as a grand entrance into the online casino world for new players. Typically, these bonuses come in the form of a match deposit, where the casino matches a percentage of the player’s initial deposit, or a no-deposit bonus, providing free credits just for signing up. To get the most value from a welcome bonus, players should carefully read the terms and conditions, including wagering requirements and game contributions, ensuring they understand the obligations tied to the bonus.
Reload bonuses are designed to keep the excitement alive for existing players. These bonuses work similarly to welcome bonuses but are offered to players who have already made one or more deposits. They can be a one-time offer or part of a recurring promotion. To maximize the benefits of reload bonuses, players should keep an eye on their casino’s promotions page, subscribe to newsletters, and take advantage of any special offers tailored to their gaming preferences.
Free spins are a beloved bonus among slot enthusiasts. They allow players to spin the reels of selected slot games without using their own funds. Whether part of a welcome package or a standalone promotion, free spins can lead to significant winnings. Players should be aware of the eligible games for free spins and any wagering requirements associated with potential winnings. Choosing the right game and managing free spins wisely can turn this bonus into a profitable venture.
Many online casinos in Canada offer loyalty programs to reward players for their dedication. These programs typically involve earning points based on the amount wagered, which can later be exchanged for bonuses, cashback, or other perks. To make the most of loyalty programs, players should consistently play at the same casino, climb the loyalty tiers, and take advantage of the exclusive rewards offered at higher levels.
Cashback bonuses provide a safety net for players by refunding a percentage of their losses. This type of bonus is often a weekly or monthly offer, giving players a chance to recover some of their funds, even in the face of a less fortunate gaming session. Players should check the cashback percentage, any limitations on eligible games, and whether the bonus comes with wagering requirements. Utilizing cashback effectively can soften the impact of losses and enhance the overall gaming experience.
In the vibrant landscape of online casinos in Canada, understanding the intricacies of various bonuses is key to making informed decisions. Welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, free spins, loyalty programs, and cashback bonuses each offer unique advantages. By carefully reading and comprehending the terms and conditions attached to these bonuses, players can ensure they get the most out of their gaming experience. Whether you’re a newcomer exploring the world of online casinos or a seasoned player looking for additional perks, leveraging these bonuses wisely can enhance your enjoyment and potentially lead to lucrative outcomes.
notionvc: 642a3286-a5a3-4e31-a635-95146176308e


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Top Performers of 15th Lok Sabha - Infographic - Factly
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 26, 2014
Presenting the top performers of the 15th Lok Sabha (2009-14). The data is based on: 1. Participation in debates 2. Asking Questions 3. Introducing Private member bills. A detailed analysis of the of the Top/Bottom 10 performers and many more interesting details can be found in this story.

created: December 26, 2014


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Top Source of Migrants in the World – India
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 15, 2017
It is well known that India has the largest diaspora in the world. The United Nation’s migration report for 2015 indicates that there are 16 million persons from India living outside the country of birth.
The 2015 International Migration report found that India has the largest diaspora in the world. While China is still the most populous country with a population of 1.4 billion, it only has 10 million persons living outside China. India has a population of 1.3 billion but has 16 million persons from India living outside the country of birth.
The report indicated that more than 40% of the Indian diaspora lives in three countries.  United Arab Emirates (UAE) has the largest number of persons born in India at 3 million. Pakistan and United States of America (USA) have 2 million persons each, who were born in India but live in those countries.
The International Labor Organization states that economic migration in the south Asian region is one of the top livelihoods option for many who look at it as a development tool as well as a solution to reduce individual and collective poverty. The beginning of Indians migrating to the UAE and USA in considerable numbers was for seasonal, contractual and long-term labor work.
Indian Born Persons in United Arab Emirates (UAE) – 3 Million
According to the World Migration Report- 2005, South Asians started migrating to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) around 1970 due to labor-intensive construction boom and the boom peaked around the 1990’s bringing in a lot of unskilled labor to UAE.  Current estimates indicate that UAE has a population of 9.2 million, out which 85% are foreign born/immigrants.
UAE currently has an Indian diaspora of 3 million. Initially, the government managed recruitment for work in the UAE, but now agencies and middlemen place majority of the aspiring migrants to the UAE from India. As a result of private agencies managing recruitment and placement, a large number of contract workers have been exploited – many of who become victims of debt bondage.
But in an attempt to diversify its economy and not become too dependent on oil, UAE has opened its doors to sectors like technology and manufacturing attracting high skilled migrants. 2015 Migration Center Report states foreign-born population were found in retail trade (17 per cent), in construction (14 per cent), in the domestic services sector (15 per cent) and in manufacturing as well as transport sectors (9 per cent each). The “real estate and business” as well as the “public administration” sectors each also employed 7 per cent of foreign laborers. This further highlights the scale of expatriates’ participation in the UAE economy in the private and public sectors, as well as the diversity of the non- national population, in terms of skills and areas of specialization.
Even though Indian born persons have sustained UAE’s economic growth, they remain non-nationals immaterial of how long they reside. They do not have any birthright citizenship or naturalization unless married to an Emirati man or born as child to one.
Indian born persons in United States of America (USA) – 2 Million
According to the Migration Policy Institute, “ Similar to early Chinese and Japanese immigrants, Indian arrivals in the 19th century were largely unskilled and uneducated farmers. Most came to work in agriculture in California. The restrictive Immigration Acts of 1917 and 1924, which effectively banned immigration from Asia, brought the already low levels of migration from India to a halt. As of 1960, there were only 12,000 Indian immigrants in the United States, representing less than 0.5 percent of the 9.7 million foreign-born populations at the time.”
Indians migrating to USA for resettlement were limited till 1980 and only sky rocketed after immigration policies were relaxed. The biggest increase in Indian born population happened after 1990 when temporary worker visas were increased and employment based immigration policies allowed applying for permanent residency. India is the top recipient of employment-based visas and is in the top two countries with highest number of students studying in the US.
According to US Census ACS 2009-2013, about 70 percent of Indian immigrants ages 16 and over were in the civilian labor force, compared to 67 percent and 63 percent of the total foreign- and native-born populations, respectively. Indian immigrants were more than twice as likely to be employed in management, business, science, and arts occupations (73 percent) than both the overall foreign-born (30 percent) and native-born (38 percent) populations. In 2013, similar to the overall foreign-born population, 47 percent of the 2 million Indian immigrants residing in the United States were naturalized U.S. citizens.
Five Indian- Americans Kamala Harris, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamurthy, Pramila Jayapal and Ami Berra have been elected to United States Congress in the recent election cycle expanding Indian-Americans participation in Public life.
Migrating to Pakistan – 2 Million
India and Pakistan have had a politically hostile environment since their partition in 1947. There are no known mass migratory patterns to Pakistan from India, besides the mass migration of people during the 1947 partition.
According to the UNESCO, the term ‘migrant’ is any person who lives temporarily or permanently in a country where he or she was not born.  So, it is possible that the displaced population during partition, which made Pakistan its home and was born on the other side of the border- in India, has been considered as migrated population for the purpose of tracking migration in various regions by the United Nations. Pakistan currently has 2 million persons who were born in India. It is interesting to note that the Government of India’s data shows that not a single Person of Indian Origin (PIO) or a Non Resident Indian (NRI) lives in Pakistan.
Highest Remittances Destination – India
According to Migration and Remittances Fact book 2016, India had remittance inflows of $72 billion in 2015. With an Indian born population of 16 million living outside India; India tops the list of countries receiving remittances than any other country in the world.
As a Destination for Migrants – India
A recent PEW Research Center Report, India has the 12th largest immigrant populations in the world and that a majority of India’s immigrants are from neighboring countries such as Bangladesh (3.2 Million), Pakistan (1.1 million), Nepal (54,000) and Sri Lanka (160,000), considering that the World Migration Report 2015 indicates that in many parts of the globe, migration primarily occurs between countries that are located within the same major area of the world and that Asia region has seen rapid economic activity between 2000 and 2015.
Also, World Migration Reports over the years have clearly shown that migration in search of economic opportunities is deeply entrenched in most Asian economies and is facilitated by recruiters, agents and has been promoted for a long time by labor surplus countries, which could at the same time have high poverty or weak economies.
Featured Image: Top Source of Migrants in the World – India


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Total Number of Train Accidents
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 23, 2017
While the number of Train Accidents has significantly reduced in the last 14 years, derailments have gone up in the last few years. The proportion of derailments in the total accidents was 75% in 2016-17, the highest in 14 years.


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Towards an Unchained Country
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 17, 2016
The Government of India in May this year, modified the Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers by significantly increasing the rehabilitation amount. But will this help?
In May, the Ministry of Labour and Employment released the operational guidelines for the new Central Sector Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers, 2016.  This story outlines the issue of bonded labour, highlights the important features of the 2016 scheme and compares it with earlier central sector schemes for rehabilitation of bonded labourers to understand if the new scheme will help in making any substantial progress.
A Relic of the Past Thriving in Present Economic Depravity
Bonded labour is an asymmetric relationship between a creditor and a debtor in which the repayment of debt is demanded by labour and enforced through the violation of human rights of the debtor. Bonded labour is a variant of slavery. Its subjects are forced to work long hours in hazardous conditions, are denied wages, fall victim to physical and sexual abuse and lack social protection, freedom of employment and movement. Bonded labour robs the debtors of dignity and autonomy, keeping them in a vicious cycle of dependence on the creditor. It can continue for several years and even pass on to the next generation, even though a report sponsored by the Planning Commission found (from a survey of rehabilitated bonded labourers) that nearly half of the loans were for less than Rs 5,000 and that most loans were for less than Rs 10,000.
Bonded labour preys on the chronically poor in India who are disadvantaged and vulnerable due to the lack of livelihood opportunities, assets, illiteracy, caste inequalities and the feudal structure. Most bonded labourers are landless and belong to the Dalit or Adivasi communities. They lack economic power and access to social goods and opportunities. Unable to sustain themselves, they are forced into taking debts and enter into unfair agreements. In recent years, agents have been luring the penniless with promises of fair employment only to traffick them to a different part of the country and enslave them as bonded labourers. Usually, the male head of the deprived household is trapped into bondage and resultantly the women and children are also enslaved.
A plethora of laws and international conventions prohibit bonded labour. They are
Yet, the system operates insidiously across India in agriculture, mining, quarries, construction, brick kilns, silk and cotton production, bidi making, informal sector etc. Escaping from bonded labour is next to impossible. Therefore, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act required State Governments to establish Vigilance Committees to identify, release and rehabilitate bonded labourers. In 1978, the Central Government established a scheme to provide assistance in rehabilitating bonded labourers. This scheme has been revised in 1986, 1995,1999 and 2000. The latest revision is the 2016 scheme.
Entitlements under the 2016 Scheme
The 2016 scheme is noteworthy as it recognises the differential needs of marginalised groups trapped in bonded labour. It provides cash assistance of:
The male rehabilitated bonded labourer provided with Rs 1,00,000 can opt for depositing the money in an annuity scheme or receiving the sum. The district administration will assess his cash requirement and put the money in an annuity scheme with his consent.
For the females and children receiving Rs 2,00,000 cash assistance, at least Rs 1,25,000 will be deposited in an annuity scheme and the remaining amount will be transferred to their bank accounts through electronic clearing service.
Rehabilitated bonded labourers who are extremely vulnerable and thereby receiving Rs 3 lakh cash assistance will similarly have at least Rs 2 lakh deposited in an annuity scheme and the balance will be transferred to their bank account through electronic clearing service.
Non-cash assistance provided to all rehabilitated bonded labourers must include:
Adult male bonded labourers must be compulsorily given employable skill training. Children, female and disabled bonded labourers must be provided with proper education, counselling, short stay home until Class 12 and skill development. Financial and other assistance for marriage must be given to women and disabled bonded labourers. Disabled bonded labourers are also entitled to the special care enlisted in the national policy for the disabled.
The Scheme mandates that a Bonded Labour Rehabilitation Fund be created by the State Government in each district to provide immediate help to release bonded labourers. This Fund must have a minimum permanent corpus of Rs 10 lakh. The District Magistrate (DM) must provide an advance of at least Rs 5,000 to released bonded labourers from this fund as immediate relief. If the DM finds any bonded labourer in need of greater assistance, he/she can provide the maximum entitlement prescribed to the category that the person belongs to under the scheme.
How the Funds Reach the Rehabilitated Bonded Labourer
Under the 2016 scheme, funds will be released after bonded labour is proved in court and the creditor is convicted. Only proposals for financial assistance can be made by the District Magistrate upon finding prima facie proof of bondage.
The District Magistrate must submit a claims proposal to the District National Child Labour Project Society –  specifying the details of the rehabilitation assistance provided by the State government, a category-wise break-up of bonded labourers to be rehabilitated, a release certificate for every bonded labour to be rehabilitated and the penalty or punishment awarded to the creditors.
The District NCLP Society scrutinises this proposal and then submits it to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The Ministry of Finance vets the release of funds. Then the Ministry of Labour and Employment sends the funds to the District NCLP Society.
According to the scheme, the District NCLP Society must release the funds along with the interest to the district administration and other implementing agencies. However, in response to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Ministry of Labour and Employment stated that the benefits would be transferred from the District NCLP Society to the accounts of the rehabilitated bonded labourers through Direct Benefit Transfer. Moreover, the official DBT website lists the Rehabilitation Scheme as being DBT onboarded.
Comparison with Earlier Schemes
The previous 1999 scheme provided a meagre Rs 20,000 cash assistance to rehabilitated bonded labourers, irrespective of their identities and resultant disadvantages and vulnerabilities. The financial assistance provided was equally contributed (50-50 basis) by the Central and the State Government.
Under the 2016 scheme, the Centre disburses the full financial assistance. It has substantially increased the cash assistance provided and enhanced assistance for disadvantaged groups. It has also increased funds for survey identification of bonded labourers in each district from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh.
Curiously, the non-cash assistance of protection of civil rights of rehabilitated bonded labourers finds no place in the scheme despite appearing in the 2016 draft scheme and 1999 scheme. Moreover, the non-cash assistance  provided falls short of the robust assistance proposed by the National Human Rights Commission which additionally provided for
Towards an Unchained Country?
The Ministry of Labour and Employment reports that around Rs 162 crores have been released for providing rehabilitation assistance throughout the country from 1978-2014. It noted that the provision of financial assistance was the norm. No adequate proposals for rehabilitation assistance have been put forward by the States. Only 2,28,429 bonded labourers have been rehabilitated until March, 2016. The government hopes to release and rehabilitate an estimated 1.84 crores of bonded labourers by 2024. This is a wildly optimistic goal for the status quo.
Featured Image: Image

created: December 17, 2016


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Tracing the history of Section 377 of IPC - Factly
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 11, 2018
Section 377 has always been under public discourse and discussion. Some activists have called it a regressive and unjust law which curtails the fundamental rights of citizens. To get a better understanding of the law it is necessary to trace its history, to understand exactly how the law came to be. This article examines the evolution law from 16th century Great Britain right till the 2015 Private Bill submitted by Dr. Shashi Tharoor..
We have all heard of the infamous Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalizes homosexuality. However there are numerous misconceptions regarding its origin and history. This article aims to bring light to the matter: trace its roots, explain the various controversies surrounding, and introduce the various judgments that have been made and legislations that have been drafted in regards to it. As it exists today in Chapter XVI of the Indian Penal Code, Section 377 states:
“377. Unnatural offences—Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation — Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.”
The Buggery Act of 1533
This Section (Section 377) was drafted by Thomas Macaulay around 1838 but was only brought into effect in 1860 in light of the Sepoy Mutiny (First War of Independence) 1857. This law in British India was modelled on the Buggery Act 1533 which was enacted under the reign of King Henry VIII. This law defined ‘buggery’ as an unnatural sexual act against the will of God and man. Thus, this criminalised anal penetration, bestiality and in a broader sense homosexuality.
In 1828, the Act was repealed and replaced by the Offences against the Person Act 1828. This Act broadened the definition of unnatural sexual acts, and allowed for easier prosecution of rapists, but also homosexuals. This act is what is considered to be the inspiration for Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. In years to come this Act would be repealed by the British and replaced by the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
Finally homosexuality was decriminalised in the UK by the Sexual Offences Act 1967. It is interesting to note that while the British government has now made same-sex marriage legal, the Indian government still follows this archaic law written in the 1830s and enacted in 1860.
The Delhi High Court Verdict of 2009
Over the years Section 377 has sparked numerous controversies and has been challenged in both the High Court of Delhi and the Supreme Court. In 2001, Naz Foundation (India) Trust, a non-governmental organization challenged Section 377 in the Delhi High Court by filing a lawsuit to allow homosexual relations between consenting adults. They argued that Section 377 should only be applicable to non-consensual penile non-vaginal sex and penile non-vaginal sex involving minors. However in 2003, the High Court dismissed the case, stating that the Naz Foundation had no standing in the matter (locus standi). The Naz Foundation appealed this dismissal by the High Court to the Supreme Court, which concurred with them, and instructed the High Court to reconsider the case. This led to the historic judgement in 2009 by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar, which decriminalized consensual sexual acts between adults. Furthermore, this judgement was to be in force until the Parliament decided to amend Section 377.
Appeals in the Supreme Court
This led to various appeals being made to the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s authority to change a law. While the Supreme Court dismissed numerous such appeals and the then Attorney General G. E. Vahanvati made it clear that he wasn’t planning to file an appeal against the verdict of the Delhi High Court; numerous appeals kept being filed challenging the validity of the judgement made by the High Court. Finally on December 11, 2012 a panel of two Supreme Court judges overturned the decision that the High Court had made in 2009. The judgement stated that the power to amend the law was with the Parliament and not the High Court, thus their (High Court’s) judgement was constitutionally unstable. Thus, the Supreme Court recommended that the Parliament address the matter because only they had the power to amend the existing laws.
Shashi Tharoor’s Private Member Bill
Since this decision was made just before the 2014 General Elections, it was no surprise that no party was willing to introduce a bill on such a controversial topic. Since the NDA government has taken power, there have been no government bills addressing this issue. However, Shashi Tharoor the Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram and the former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations used the social media to raise awareness, sign petitions regarding the matter, and finally introduced a private bill. This bill aimed at allowing adults have consensual non-vaginal sexual intercourse, thus effectively decriminalising homosexuality. However it was disappointing to see that this bill was almost immediately rejected without it even being introduced.
As the constitution bench of the Supreme Court begins hearing on this subject, it is tough to say what the future of Section 377 will be. The question remains: are we going to be governed by an archaic, socially conservative British law or are we going to implement more liberal, progressive and inclusive laws.


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Tracking BJP’s 2014 Manifesto Promises: Health Services -1
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 18, 2019
Editor’s Note: The BJP’s manifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha general elections had a total of 495 promises. Out of the 495 promises, many were vague promises that are difficult to track and review. In a series of stories, we track some of the tangible promises made in various sectors and review if they have been fulfilled.
The BJP has made a number of promises with regards to health services in their 2014 manifesto. While not all the promises can be verified, this article is a review of to what extent the party has kept some of its promises in the health sector.
Did the government launch a new Health Policy?
One of the promises that have been made isthat ‘the last
healthcare policy dates back to 2002. India now needs a comprehensive
healthcare policy to address the complex healthcare challenges, keeping in view
the developments in the healthcare sector and the changing demographics. BJP
will initiate the New Health Policy’.
The current BJP government has formulated the Draft NationalHealth Policy, 2015 in the light of the changes that have taken place in thecountry’s health sector scenario since the formulation of the National HealthPolicy 2002. The Draft. National Health Policy, 2015 has been placed in publicdomain in December 2014 for wider stakeholder consultations.
The process of formulation of the new NationalHealth Policy entailed wide consultation with multiple stakeholders, Regionalconsultations, approval of Central Council of Health and Family Welfare andGroup of Ministers. The Cabinet in its meeting held on 15th March, 2017approved the National Health Policy, 2017. According to the government’s response in the parliament, there aresome points in the new policy that have notbeen specifically covered or addressed in the older policy.
While the larger implementation of thispolicy and its effectiveness remain to be reviewed, the major promise itself isfulfilled.
Promise: The last healthcare policy dates back to 2002. India now needs a comprehensive healthcare policy to address the complex healthcare challenges, keeping in view the developments in the healthcare sector and the changing demographics. BJP will initiate the New Health Policy.
Status:  The Cabinet in its meeting held on 15th March, 2017 approved the National Health Policy, 2017. The promise has been FULFILLED.
Is there a mission to provide universal
health care and reduce OOP spending?
The nextpromise was that the government shall ‘Initiate
the ‘National Health Assurance Mission’, with a clear mandate to provide universal
healthcare that is not only accessible and affordable, but also effective, and
reduces the OOP spending for the common man’.
While no such specific mission was launchedby the current government, here is a look at various initiatives of the currentgovernment that fall under the larger ambit of providing universal health care.
While some of the above are newinitiatives, some others are continuation of the programs launched by the UPA.All in all, it is difficult to say if this promise is fulfilled since majorprograms were launched only in the later half of the tenure. Hence this promiseis remains ‘In Progress’.
Promise: Initiate the ‘National Health Assurance Mission’, with a clear mandate to provide universal healthcare that is not only accessible and affordable, but also effective, and reduces the OOP spending for the common man.
Reorganization of Departments
Yet another promise that was made about this sector is to ‘Reorganize Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in order to converge various departments dealing in healthcare, food and nutrition and pharmaceuticals, for effective delivery of healthcare services.”
The Department of Pharmaceuticals is still under the Ministry of Chemicals& Fertilizers. This department deals with the supply of drugs, pricing ofdrugs to make them affordable, the Jan Aushadi stores etc. The Food &Nutrition board is still under the Ministry of Women & Child Development. Hencethis promise is broken.
Promise: Reorganize Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in order to converge various departments dealing in healthcare, food and nutrition and pharmaceuticals, for effective delivery of healthcare services.
Statue: The Department of Pharmaceuticals is still under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers. This promise is BROKEN.


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TRAI directs Telcos to compensate the consumers for dropped calls. Will it work? - Factly
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 29, 2015
Over time, there is an increase in the number of complaints by consumers about dropped calls resulting in excess charging and a great inconvenience to consumers. TRAI has now directed the Telecom Companies to compensate the consumers for dropped calls. But, will it work?
After an increasing number of complaints about dropped calls, The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has finally directed the Telecom Companies (Telcos) or Mobile Operators to compensate the consumers in the event of dropped calls. While this might look like a consumer friendly move, the implementation may result in a nightmare.
Quality of Service (QoS) Benchmarks for Mobile Operators
TRAI has laid down Quality of Service (QoS) benchmarks for Mobile telephone services through ‘The Standards of Quality of Service of Basic Telephone Service (Wireline) And Cellular Mobile Telephone Service Regulations’ in 2009. They were subsequently modified in 2012 to include the 3G services. TRAI has also prescribed penalties for failure to meet the QoS benchmarks.  Presently, the benchmark for Call Drop (for 2G & 3G) is <=2% over an average period of one month.
Apart from the call drop rate, there are a host of other parameters under the QoS benchmarks that the Telcos have to adhere. These QoS benchmarks can be broadly classified as
TRAI has amended the above said regulations recently to increase the amount of financial disincentive.  According to the latest amendment, for the first contravention reported by the service provider in its quarterly performance report, the financial disincentive would be an amount not exceeding one lakh rupees per parameter. If the service provider fails to meet the benchmark for the same parameter in two or more subsequent quarters, he will be liable to pay an amount not exceeding 1.5 lakh rupees for the second consecutive contravention and not exceeding 2 lakh rupees for each consecutive contravention after that.
The issue of Dropped Calls
According to TRAI, most service providers in the country have reported that they are meeting the benchmark on call drop (<=2%). However, in the last one year, consumers have raised the issue of call drops, with an increasing number complaining that their experience of making voice calls has deteriorated. Against this background, TRAI has issued a Consultation Paper on ‘Compensation to the Consumers in the Event of Dropped Calls’ in September, 2015. In response, TRAI has received written comments from four industry associations, 11 service providers, two consumer advocacy groups, two organizations and 518 individual consumers. An open house was held with the stakeholders on October 1, 2015 in New Delhi.
During the consultation process, stakeholders raised multiple issues related to dropped calls. A large number of consumers complained of dropped calls in cases where the pulse rate was per minute. Consumers also complained that the phenomenon of dropped calls was not observed when they were making high revenue calls such as roaming, international calls etc. In the event of dropped calls, TRAI aimed at devising measures to provide relief to the consumers in the following areas
The Telcos on their part raised the following three issues as the main reasons for the problem of dropped calls.
They further argued that compensation for dropped calls in neither justifiable nor practicable.
Compensation for Dropped Calls
After hearing all the sides, TRAI has decided to put in place a mechanism to provide relief to the consumer in the event of dropped calls. According to the new directions of TRAI to be applicable from 1 January, 2016, every originating service provider is mandated to do the following for each dropped call within their network,
But, will it work?
While this might look like a consumer friendly move by TRAI, the implementation may result in a nightmare for the following reasons. In the latest regulations, TRAI has defined call drop as, a voice call which, after being successfully established, is interrupted prior to its normal completion; the cause of early termination is within the network of the service provider.
Most times, this would result in a difference of opinion between the consumer and the service provider about the dropped call. The consumer will always say that the call dropped because of a problem in the service provider’s network while the service provider will say otherwise. This will only lead to increased litigation and arguments with the customer care. In case of a conflict, the consumer will have to go through the long and painful process of complaint redressal since no specific process has been mentioned in the TRAI regulations.
The Industry associations have already termed this move by TRAI as unjust. While it remains to be seen, if TRAI gives more clarity around these regulations or drop them completely, consumers will now have to watch out for dropped calls with greater care than before.

created: October 29, 2015


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TRAI has not recommended 11-digit numbering scheme for mobile services - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 3, 2020
A post is being shared on Facebook with a claim that TRAI (Telecom  Regulatory Authority of India) has recommended replacing 10-digit mobile numbers with 11-digit ones in India. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
TRAI has recommended replacing 10-digit mobile numbers with 11-digit ones in India.
Fact: In a press release, TRAI has clarified that they have not recommended  11-digit numbering scheme for mobile services. The mentioned shift to 11-digit mobile numbering scheme was one of the possible solutions to increasing the requirement of numbering resources, but it was categorically rejected by TRAI. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When searched for the TRAI recommendation mentioned in the post, it was found that the same sentence was mentioned in a document released by TRAI on 29 May 2020 with the title – ‘Recommendations on Ensuring Adequate Numbering Resources for Fixed Line and Mobile Services’. But it was listed under the head – ‘Estimated requirement of Numbering Resources: Possible Solutions’. It was not recommended by TRAI. No such point can be found in the recommendations. With respect to that alternative, the TRAI’s opinion can be read below.
Also, as the message went viral with the claim that 10-digit mobile numbers would be replaced with 11-digit numbers, TRAI has issued a press release clarifying that they have not recommended 11-digit numbering scheme for mobile services. It reiterated that they have categorically rejected shifting to a 11-digit mobile numbering plan. It further said that it ‘recommended a dialing prefix ‘0’ while making a call from a fixed line number to mobile number. The introduction of a dialing prefix for a particular type of call is not akin to increasing the number of digits in the telephone number’. The full press release can be read here.
To sum it up, TRAI has not recommended 11-digit numbering scheme for mobile services. It was just an alternative that was rejected by the authority.
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TRAI recommends that Rural subscribers be given 100 MB free data per month
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 30, 2016
TRAI has now recommended that rural subscribers be given 100 MB free data per month to encourage data usage in the rural areas. It also recommended that the cost of implementation be met from the USOF.
After the fierce debate early this year about Facebook’s Free Basics, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) notified the ‘Prohibition of Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations’ effectively prohibiting free basics kind of offerings in the country. TRAI has now come up with a set of recommendations to encourage data usage in the rural areas by providing free data to subscribers.
Poor Rural Coverage
The TRAI report notes that there are 367.48 million internet subscribers in the country as of 30 September, 2016. TRAI also makes a mention of India’s dismal rankings as per the State of the Broadband report 2016. India has been ranked 132 for fixed broadband penetration out of the 187 countries ranked and has been ranked 156 in wireless broadband penetration out of 179 countries ranked. India also ranks below countries like Vietnam & Sri Lanka in terms of fixed broadband penetration. India’s fixed broadband penetration of 7% is way below the global average of 46%. The Rural-Urban divide is also clearly visible in the country with only 32.6% of the internet subscribers from rural areas while the rural share in the number of mobile connections 42.48%.
What did TRAI recommend?
TRAI made multiple recommendations to encourage data use in the rural areas. The recommendations are broadly in the areas of encouraging both the government and other entities bear the cost of free data. The following are some of the major recommendations.
Featured Image: TRAI

created: December 30, 2016


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Trainman contributes only 0.13% of total reserved ticketing. Adani’s takeover wouldn’t challenge IRCTC. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 21, 2023
In light of Adani Group’s recent acquisition of Trainman, an online ticket-booking and information platform, a social media post claims that the purchase would result in strong competition for IRCTC from the Adani Group. The news is being shared in the current political context claiming that first Adani competes with IRCTC and eventually will take it over. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Adani’s takeover of trainman would result in strong competition for IRCTC.
Fact: IRCTC clarified that Trainman is one of the 32 authorized B2C (Business to Customer) partners of IRCTC, to which it provides its API services, contributing 0.13% of total reserved ticketing. Changing the stake won’t make any difference to this. All integration and operations will continue to be done through IRCTC.  ICICIDirect, one of India’s largest retail brokers, has analyzed the business model of IRCTC and has opined that the real competition for the IRCTC is offline railway ticketing. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Recently, through an exchange filing, Adani Digital Labs, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, announced its acquisition of Trainman. The acquisition was finalized through a share purchase agreement, enabling Adani Digital Labs to obtain a 100 percent stake in the online platform.
Following the takeover, social media is abuzz with claims that this would result in strong competition for IRCTC. Politicians like Congress MP Jairam Ramesh took to Twitter alleging that this will eventually lead to IRCTC’s takeover by Adani.
This deal would allow Adani enterprises to sell online train tickets from its platforms. However, contrary to the viral claims, this deal would not pose any challenge to IRCTC, as it almost has a monopoly in the online train ticket booking business.
Is Adani takeover a challenge to IRCTC?
Responding to such rumors, IRCTC, through a tweet rated the rumors as misleading statements. Further, it stated that ‘Trainman is one of the 32 authorized B2C (Business to Customer) partners of IRCTC. Changing the stake won’t make any difference. All integration and operations will continue to be done through IRCTC. It will only complement IRCTC and is not a threat or challenge to IRCTC.’
यह भ्रामक कथन है। Trainman IRCTC के 32 अधिकृत बी2सी (बिजनेस टू कस्टमर) भागीदारों में से एक है। हिस्सेदारी बदलने से इसमे कोई अंतर नहीं आयेगा। सभी एकीकरण और संचालन IRCTC के माध्यम से किए जाते रहेंगे। यह केवल IRCTC का पूरक होगा और IRCTC के लिए कोई खतरा या चुनौती नहीं है। https://t.co/7ERSbMj6JR
Further, IRCTC explained its business model in a filing after the media reported that Adani will compete with IRCTC. This filing highlighted that around 14.5 lakh reserved tickets are booked on a daily basis in Indian Railways, out of which 81% are e-tickets, booked through IRCTC. On the other hand, Trainman, contributing 0.13% of total reserved ticketing, is one of 32 partners of IRCTC to which it provides its API services.
IRCTC confirmed that Trainman’s acquisition by any other agency will not change the application of the extant B2C policy in any way. And has categorically mentioned that all the integrations and operations will continue to be done through IRCTC only as is being done presently.
ICICIDirect take on the controversy :
In light of the ongoing controversy ICICIDirect, one of India’s largest retail brokers, has analyzed the business model of IRCTC and has opined that the real competition for the IRCTC is offline railway ticketing. With only 40% online bookings in 2010-11, the percentage of online bookings increased to 80.5% in 2021-22, which indicates that the competition has gone down significantly.
Here, it is worth mentioning that according to the 2021-22 annual report, IRCTC makes only makes 54% of its money from tickets. As mentioned earlier, Trainman with only 0.13% of total reserved train bookings, contributes very less and doesn’t stand a chance to take over the IRCTC.
To sum it up, Trainman contributes only 0.13% of total reserved ticketing. Adani’s takeover wouldn’t challenge IRCTC.


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Transparency in Political Funding: India has much to learn from the USA
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 31, 2020
As the campaign for the 2020 USA Presidential elections is in full swing, newspapers and analysts have been writing about & analysing the donations made to candidates. All this is possible because of the availability of timely & easily accessible information about political contributions. India has much to learn & emulate from the US as far as transparency in political funding is concerned.
Political financing is an important aspect of democracy. Political parties and individuals running for office incur expenditure in the form of campaign expenditure, PR & advertising, salaries of the staff, maintenance of offices etc. Financial resources to meet this expenditure are sought from various sources.
This could include public financing, where the elections are funded through public resources like taxes and governed by public or a designated body. Political financing can also be through self-financing where the candidate uses his/her personal resources, or they can opt for private financing where they seek support through political donations from public (individuals & organizations) who have vested or common interest.
Since the primary purpose of most of the political parties and their involvement in elections is to seek positions of power, there is a possibility that the funding from various sources could be in anticipation of favours in return and that the support is not necessarily ideological, or issue based.
Such favour seeking can have a detrimental effect on the tenets of good governance & democracy itself. Hence, democracies across the world are engaged in efforts of bringing in transparency in political financing. Transparency in political funding is an important tenet of a mature democracy and could expose such favour seeking after the elections.  However, the level of transparency and the laws relating to such funding vary in different countries.
United States of America (USA) is the oldest modern democracy in the world and has over time evolved processes which are more standardised & systemic compared to other countries. In the context of the on-going US Presidential elections campaign, we explore the statutes governing campaign finance in USA and their implementation.
Federal Election Commission enforces Campaign Finance laws at Federal level
Since the early 19 Century, there have been efforts to brining in campaign finance reforms in USA. President Theodore Roosevelt had in 1905, highlighted the need for campaign finance reform and legislation that would ban corporate contributions for political purpose. During the period 1907-1966, the US congress enacted several statues for this purpose.
In 1971, the US Congress consolidated all these reforms and enacted Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), which brought on in more stringent disclosure requirements for federal candidates, political parties & Political action committees (PACs).
In light of reports regarding serious financial abuse in the 1972 presidential campaign, FECA was amended in 1974 with limits now being set on contributions by individuals, political parties and PACs. To enforce these laws, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) was established as an independent agency. FEC has jurisdiction over the financing of campaigns for U.S House, the U.S. Senate, the Presidency and the Vice Presidency.
In 1979, major amendments were made to streamline the disclosure process and expand the role of political parties. This was following a constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court in the case of Buckley vs Valeo.
The next set of major amendments regarding campaign finance were made through Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA). This act banned national political party committees from raising or spending non-federal funds also called as ‘Soft Money’. The act also prohibited state and local party committees from using soft money for activities that affect federal elections.  The BCRA also restricted issue ads and increased contribution limits.
FEC allows contributions from Individuals and Political Action Committees among others
The FEC determines the eligibility of those who can contribute to the Federal candidates and also prohibits few from contributing. The contributions are subject to the limits specified by FEC for each type of contributor.
Here is the list of who can contribute and who are prohibited from contributing as per the FEC rules.
The FEC further highlights the different types of contributions that can be made as campaign support. These include :
As per FECA, all the contributions are subject to limits. Except for the contributions that are made from a candidate’s personal funds, the limits are applied for all the contributions. The FEC has provided in detail the limits for each of the contributions as well as how the limits work for each of campaigns, like – caucuses & primaries, contribution to Presidential & Vice Presidential candidates, contributions to general elections etc.
Apart from these limits , there are other limits specified by FEC :
FEC recommends the contributors to clearly designate the contribution to a specific election, as this helps in determining the contribution limits. Furthermore, it also recommends to clearly specify the date of contribution made by the contributor and the date the contribution as received by the campaign.
Clear guidelines laid down for reporting and disclosure of the contribution received
The FEC provides clear guidelines on how the campaigns should report different types of contributions received by them. The information includes, the forms to be used for reporting, specifications on what to be reported, how to submit the report of contribution received etc.
FECA requires candidate committees, party committees, PACs etc i.e. all those who receive the contributions for campaigning to file periodic reports which disclose the details of the money raised and spent.
The reporting for receipt of funds follows a flow where in the candidates contesting the elections need to disclose all the PACs and Party committees that provide them the contributions. They in turn would identify and report all the individuals who have contributed to them (more than $200).  All the expenditure exceeding $200 also needs to be duly reported.
FEC provides reporting dates on which the respective campaigns need to submit their reports. The filing of the reports can happen either electronically or manually by mailing paper reports.
The FEC maintains the database of all this information and publishes information about the campaigns and donors on its website for public view.
On the website, the information can be pooled in respect to the total amount raised and spent by candidates, by different election & party committees etc.
For example, one can access the information and the details of all the individual contributors.
Or the information can be sought by the amount received and disbursed by the candidates.
Loopholes in US Campaign Finance laws are taken advantage by the candidates
The FEC has been effective in setting up checks & balances in place for transparency in campaign finance. However, time and again candidates have found workarounds to solicit more campaign funds and not disclose them. The amendments in the campaign finance laws are a testimony to the continuous work in progress to identify these loopholes and rectify them.
A report published by Bipartisan policy centre, titled ‘Campaign Finance in the United States; Assessing an Era of Fundamental Change’ highlights few of the recent challenges regarding transparency in US election campaign financing.
Despite these loopholes, there is enough transparency in the campaign finance laws coupled with timely & easily accessible disclosure of contributions. This is an area that the Indian political funding laws are yet to catch up with.
Indian Political funding laws lack transparency and do not provide for timely public access to information
As highlighted, the campaign finance laws in USA require regular and timely submission & disclosure of contribution reports from candidates & parties. The information is in the form of periodical reports like quarterly updates or real-time reports by election campaigns.  The FEC publishes all of this information on the public and provides near up to date information of the trends in campaign financing. Furthermore, the disclosures contain granular information – by individual contributor, by candidate, by PAC, by election campaign etc there by providing transparent and holistic information in the public domain. Any citizen can easily access this information.
However, the same cannot be said regarding political funding laws in India. The Election commission of India (ECI) has over the years driven various initiatives to bring in some kind of transparency in the way political parties receive political funding but there is much left to be desired on this front.
Currently, the yearly Audit, Contribution & Expenditure reports submitted by the political parties are the only data available in public domain to understand political funding and expenditure. However, as experience shows, these reports are rarely submitted on time. Factly has early written multiple stories on this. Even for the previous financial year (2019-20), although the usual cut-off date is 31 October, only two state parties have submitted their contribution reports and none of the National parties have. Not a single party has submitted their annual audit report for 2019-20. Bulk of the funding for the 2019 Lok Sabha general elections would have been received by the political parties in April & May of 2019. But even after 18 months, the citizens have no idea of who contributed and how much to political parties.
Even timely submission of reports does not provide a holistic understanding of the contributions received by the political parties, as the information is provided well after an election. This challenge in ascertaining the extent of funding received through opaque electoral bonds & their contributors was highlighted by us in an earlier story. There are transparency challenges even with the threshold limits for anonymous donations through other means.
It is high time that the Parliament amend the existing laws so as to bring in greater transparency in political funding and do away with anonymous funding except for smaller amounts of less than Rs. 1000 or so.  On the other hand, the ECI could think of creating a platform where timelier & easily accessible information regarding the political contributions & expenditure is made available for the public, instead of just uploading scanned reports submitted by political parties.
Featured Image: Transparency in Political Funding

created: October 31, 2020


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How much do people spend
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 6, 2016
How much do people spend?  This infographic looks at the expenditure pattern of Domestic Tourists in India based on the NSS 72nd round report.

created: December 6, 2016


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Trimmed video of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s slip of tongue about his teacher shared without his correction - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 7, 2022
A short video clip of Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s saying, “We used to keep our feet on our teacher’s head” is being widely shared on social media claiming that he insulted his teacher. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video clip of Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh saying, “We used to keep our feet on our teacher’s head”.
Fact: Full length videos of Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s speech shows that he had immediately corrected his mistake by saying, “To take our teacher’s blessings, we used to keep our head at his feet”. But the viral video doesn’t show this correction part. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Since the viral video ended abruptly, we searched for the full-length video by taking a cue from the background text that appeared in the viral video and found a full length video shared by “Office of Shivraj” on 04 September 2022.
नवनियुक्त शिक्षकों का प्रशिक्षण कार्यक्रम #Bhopal #ShivrajKaGurukul https://t.co/SGfW4S3diw
This video is from the “Training programme for Newly Appointed Teachers” event organised on 04 September 2022 at Bhopal. In this event, the Chief Minister interacted with newly hired teachers where he spoke about importance of teachers in building a good society.
From 41:10 timestamp, the speech goes like this – “Today I will tell you, my story. As I said earlier, I studied at a government school in Jait, even in Bhopal I studied in Government school. Our teacher, who is still alive, was Shridhe Ratan Chand Jain. I go to him, and we keep our feet on his head…(hesitantly), on his head we always. (pauses)” But at 41:38 timestamp, he immediately rectifies the mistake and says, “To take his blessings, we used to keep our head at his feet”
Other full-length versions of his speech were also uploaded on “Shivraj Singh Chouhan” and “OTV” YouTube channels. In these two videos, he can be seen correcting his mistake at 1:09:43 and 0:27 time stamps respectively.
To sum it up, even though Shivraj Singh Chouhan had a slip of tongue about his teacher, he immediately corrected it. But a clipped video of him committing a mistake during the speech is being shared without showing correction.

created: September 7, 2022


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Trinamool Congress leader wasn’t pointing a gun at the BJP speaker in a TV debate, it’s actually a mic - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 26, 2019
Many Facebook users are sharing a post with a video alleging that during a debate on a news channel, a Trinamool Congress leader pulled out a gun and pointed it at the BJP speaker. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
A TMC leader during a debate on a news channel, pulled out a gun and pointed it at the BJP speaker in the show.
Fact: TMC leader had actually pointed the mic which he was holding from the start of the debate and not the gun as alleged in the post. Hence, the claim stands FALSE.
When searched in YouTube with the keywords “Zee Bengali Fight between TMC and BJP leaders in a debate”, the actual and complete video of the one posted on Facebook will be found. On analyzing the video by slowing down its speed, it can be clearly seen that TMC leader Rabindranath Ghosh had actually pointed a mic towards the BJP leader Nishith Pramanik, when there was a verbal dispute between them.
To sum it up, the TMC leader pointed a mic towards the BJP leader when there was a heated argument between both.


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TRS MLA Harish Rao is not joining BJP. It’s just an April Fool prank. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 1, 2019
A post with a newspaper article link is being shared on Facebook by many users claiming that Harish Rao, a TRS MLA, is going to join BJP. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
The archived version of the post can be found here.
TRS MLA Harish Rao set to join BJP.
At the end of the newspaper article, it is written that readers are advised to remember this is April Fool’s Day. Also, Harish Rao countered the claim by terming it as ‘fake news’ on his Twitter account. So, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When the link given in the post is clicked, the whole article can be read. At the end of the article, a line can be found saying “While that is so, readers are advised to remember this is April Fool’s Day.” So, it is just an April Fool prank and should not be taken seriously.
Harish Rao reacted to this news by tweeting through his official Twitter account. He termed the article as ‘fake news’ and also, asked the outlet which published this article to issue an apology.
Finally, TRS MLA Harish Rao is not joining BJP. It’s just an April Fool prank.


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Trump's announcement is about FDA's approval of a Coronavirus ‘test’ developed by Roche, not a vaccine - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 17, 2020
A video clip is widely being shared on Facebook with the claim that American President Donald Trump has announced that Roche Medical Company will launch the vaccine for COVID-19 next Sunday and millions of doses are ready for usage. Let’s check the authenticity of the claim made in the post.
Video of American President Donald Trump announcing that Roche Medical Company will launch the vaccine for COVID-19 next Sunday.
Fact: In the video, American President Donald Trump hasn’t said that Roche Medical Company will launch the vaccine for COVID-19. He announced FDA’s approval of a Coronavirus ‘test’ developed by a company ‘Roche’ to increase and accelerate the country’s capacity to test for the virus. So, the claim isFALSE.
In the video clip posted, Donald Trump hands over the podium to Roche Diagnostics Chief Executive Officer for North America Matt Sause. Then Matt speaks- ‘Thank you, Mr. President.  So, from Roche, we want to thank the FDA for their rapid approval of our coronavirus test. We really appreciate the partnership with the CDC and the FDA to get that to market as fast as possible because it’s critical for us to make that available to help patients in need, and working with laboratories to get it up and going in the near future, which will bring hundreds of thousands of tests available to patients in need in the United States. So, thank you’. After Matt’s speech, the clip ends with Trump saying- ‘And you can do it.  You can do it.  A great company’. So, in the video clip, Roche Diagnostics CEO for North America Matt Sause thanked FDA (U.S Food and Drug Administration) for rapid approval of the coronavirus test developed by their company.
When searched with keywords, the full video of the clip posted was found on ‘The White House’ website. In that video dated 13 March 2020 (Friday), Trump declares ‘National emergency’ and then opens $50 billion for the states and territories to fight against the disease. Later, Trump announces that the FDA has approved a Coronavirus test developed by ‘Roche’ to increase and accelerate the country’s capacity to test for the virus. He also said that he was expecting the availability of half a million additional tests early next week and would be announcing the locations for tests on Sunday. Later in the video, Vice President Pence and members of Coronavirus Task Force spoke in that press conference. From the Roche diagnostics website, it is found that the company has begun shipping of COVID-19 tests to laboratories across the US recently to begin testing of patients.
As per the website of U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH), currently, no approved vaccines exist to prevent infection with Coronavirus. But, Phase 1 of the clinical trial evaluating an investigational vaccine (mRNA-1273) designed to protect against COVID-19 has begun on 16 March. And it is the first of multiple steps in the clinical trial process for evaluating the potential benefit of that vaccine. The vaccine was developed by NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) scientists and their collaborators at the biotechnology company Moderna, Inc.
To sum it up, in the video, American President Donald Trump has announced that the FDA has approved a Coronavirus ‘test’ developed by a company ‘Roche’.
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Truncated clip of the video that shows Gorakhpur Police asking people not to believe child kidnapping rumours is shared with a false narrative - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 19, 2019
A video that purportedly shows a Police officer warning people of Gorakhpur to be safe as child kidnapping gangs are moving in the city is being shared widely on Facebook. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
Video of Gorakhpur Police officer warning people to be safe as child kidnapping gangs are moving in the city.
Fact: The clip posted is a truncated part of the video that shows Gorakhpur Police asking people not to believe child kidnapping rumours prevalent in the city. So, the claim is FALSE.
On the video clip posted, a logo ‘Gorakhpur News’ can be seen. With this information, when looked on YouTube, a channel with that name was found to exist. When searched in the channel for the video, a longer video of this 1min 27secs clip was found to be uploaded on August 25, 2019. The full video was of 2min 35secs duration. The clip seen in the post is truncated between the duration 0:21 and 1:47. In the full video, before 0:21 duration, the news reporter says that Gorakhpur SP Kaustubh has clarified that message on the name of Gorakhpur Police warning people to be alert about child kidnapping gangs moving in the city as fake. And, after 1:47 duration, SP says that the news regarding kidnapping gangs moving Gorakhpur is a rumour and no incident of child theft is reported in the city. The video was clipped in a way that it would mislead people about child kidnapping incidents.
As that video clip has gone viral, the ‘Gorakhpur news’ channel has uploaded another video on September 12, 2019 clarifying that their news channel’s August 25, 2019 news video was clipped and shared with a false narrative. In that video, Gorakhpur SP Kaustubh has also said that a video that shows him cautioning people not to believe child kidnapping rumours was truncated and warned the ones who have done it. This can be heard after 2:38 duration in that video.
To conclude, a truncated clip of the video that shows Gorakhpur Police asking people not to believe child kidnapping rumours is shared with a false narrative.
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created: September 19, 2019


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TSNPDCL did not issue this latest job notification for 107 Junior Accountant Officer posts in Telangana - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 22, 2021
A photo is being circulated on social media claiming it as the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited’s (TSNPDCL) latest job notification for 107 Junior Accounts Officer (JAO) posts in Telangana. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: TSNPDCL latest job notification for 107 Junior Accounts Officer (JAO) posts in Telangana.
Fact: TSNPDCL had not issued any such job notification recently. This notification shared in the post is an edited version of the 2018 TSNPDCL job notification for the recruitment of 107 Junior Accounts Officers (JAO). Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When we searched to check whether the Northern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited (TSNPDCL) had issued any such notification recently on their website, we could not find any on the TSNPDCL website. TSNPDCL had issued its last Junior Accounts Officer (JAO) job notification in June 2018. After December 2018, TSNPDCL had not issued any job notification on their website.
On comparing the details of the 2018 TSNPDCL notification for 107 JAO posts with the one shared in the post, it is found out that the notification shared in the post is an edited version of the 2018 TSNPDCL notification. The number of posts, the last date of application submission, and the date of examination match with the 2018 TSNPDCL notification for the recruitment of Junior Accounts Officers, except for the year. By changing the year from 2018 to 2021, this edited image is being falsely shared as the recent notification from TSNPDCL.
To sum it up, TSNPDCL did not issue this latest job notification for 107 Junior Accountant Officer posts in Telangana.


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Turkey Earthquake: Game of Thrones Still Falsely Shared as Photo of a Trapped Couple - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 23, 2023
A social media post shared a photo of two people stuck under concrete ruins. The post description claims they were found during the terrible earthquake in Turkey. Let’s fact-check this claim through this article.
Claim: A photo of a couple stuck under rubble caused by the Turkey earthquake.
Fact: This viral photo is a still from the HBO TV series Game of Thrones. This photo is available on the official photo book of Game of Thrones. Hence the claim made in the post is False.
We ran a reverse image search on Ynadex to learn more about the viral photo. This led us to many websites which contained this photo. On the website of the book publishing agency Simon and Schuster, a book titled ‘The Photography of Game of Thrones, the official photo book of Season 1 to Season 8’ is available for purchase. One of the photos in the collection is the same as the viral picture.
This book is also available on the website of barnesandnoble and belfastexposed. It contains a collection of photos captured on the set of Game of Thrones. The photo shows two characters from the famous TV show, Cersei Lannister and Jaime Lannister.
A scene from the show in which both characters die was uploaded to YouTube by an unverified channel. At 1:48, in this video, one can see both characters lying amidst rubble the same way as in the photo.
To sum up, a still from the TV series Game of Thrones is shared as a photo of a couple stuck under the rubble in the aftermath of the Turkey earthquake.

created: February 23, 2023


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Turkey earthquake picture shared as that of a collapsed building following the earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 23, 2023
A video is being shared on social media claiming it as the visuals of a collapsed building in the earthquake-hit Karnah tehsil in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The post claims that three people lost their lives because of the earthquake in the Kupwara district. This video is widely shared on social media after strong tremors jolted Jammu and Kashmir following an earthquake of magnitude 6.6 that struck Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush region on 21 March 2023. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video showing a collapsed building following an earthquake in Karnah tehsil in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Fact: The video shows a damaged building in Turkey’s Kahramanmaras city after a massive earthquake hit the region on 06 February 2023. Deputy Commissioner Kupwara tweeted a clarification stating that the social media rumours about three deaths because of an earthquake are fake and baseless. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
On reverse image search of the screenshots of the video, a photo showing the same collapsed building was found in an article published by the ‘NBC’ news website on 06 February 2023. The article shared multiple images reporting them as devastating pictures from Turkey and Syria after powerful earthquakes hit the regions on 06 February 2023. The description of the photo states, “A damaged building leans dangerously in Kahramanmaras, Turkey.” The news website credited the picture to Anadolu Agency’s journalist Firat Ozdemir.
When we searched for further sources, we found the same photo in a tweet published by the ‘Anadolu Agency’ on 06 February 2023. The tweet states, “After the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred at 4.17 am in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş, 6 aftershocks of more than 6 magnitudes were experienced.”
Kahramanmaraş’ın Pazarcık ilçesinde saat 4.17’de meydana gelen 7,4 büyüklüğündeki depremin ardından 6 büyüklüğünün üzerinde 6 artçı deprem yaşandı https://t.co/AwdT7Cpc6y pic.twitter.com/bDw51OFoB5
Tweeting the same picture, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara responded to social media rumours on three deaths in Karnah by stating, “I am myself in Karnah.  There is no loss of any life or property.  The News spread on social media platform regarding 3 deaths, is fake, concocted and baseless.  Please don’t spread such fake news.”
I am myself in Karnah.  There is no loss of any life or property.  The News spread on social media platform regarding 3 deaths, is fake, concocted and baseless.  Please don't spread such fake news. pic.twitter.com/OcFG9DubK0
To sum it up, an old picture related to the Turkey earthquake is shared as picture of a collapsed building following the recent earthquake in Jammu and Kashmir.


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Turkey has not released any postal stamp of PM Narendra Modi as a mark of gratitude for providing help during the recent earthquake - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 10, 2023
A photo is being shared on social media claiming that the Turkish government has released a special postage stamp in their country with the image of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The post states that Turkey issued this stamp as a mark of gratitude for the timely help rendered by India after the recent earthquake. Let’s fact-check this claim through this article.
Claim: Turkey issued a stamp of Indian PM Narendra Modi as a mark of gratitude for the timely help rendered by India after the recent earthquake.
Fact: To mark the G20 Antalya Summit held in Turkey in 2015, Turkish President Erdogan released special edition commemorative postage stamps with portraits of the G20 leaders. Turkey has not just released a postage stamp bearing the image of Narendra Mod but also produced postage stamps of other G20 leaders on this occasion in 2015. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
A search with relevant keywords for the details of the claim made in the post revealed that several news agencies had published articles in the month of November 2015 reporting that Turkey had released aspecial postal stamp with the image of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These reports can be found here and here. The news agencies reported that a special postage stamp featuring the image of Narendra Modi was released at the G20 Antalya summit in Turkey on 15 November 2015. The 2.80 Turkish Lira stamp featured Narendra Modi’s image along with the Indian national flag, these reports said. The news agencies also reported that the Turkish government had created special postage stamps with portraits of G20 leaders to mark the G20 Antalya Summit.
A photo of these special postage stamps created by ‘The Turkish Post’ with portraits of G20 leaders was tweeted by the ‘G20 Turkey’ Twitter handle on 18 November 2015. Post stamps with images of other G20 leaders can also be seen in this photo, including a postage stamp with PM Narendra Modi’s image.
More information on these special stamps produced by Turkey during the G20 Antalya Summit can be found here.
To sum up, the Turkish government has not released any postal stamp as a mark of gratitude towards PM Narendra Modi for providing help during the recent earthquake.


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Turkmenistan government is no longer offering free water, gas & electricity to citizens - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 26, 2022
A post which claims Turkmenistan has been providing free water, gas & electricity to its citizens from 1993 to date is being share widely across social media platforms. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Turkmenistan has been providing free water, gas & electricity to its citizens from 1993 to till date.
Fact: While it is true that Turkmenistan government provided free water, gas and electricity to its citizens from 1993, the provision was ended in 2019 by then President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov. Bad economic situation due to fall in energy prices and noticeable increase in the income of the population, are among the reasons mentioned behind the move. Currently, no such provisions offering free amenities exist in Turkmenistan. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
It is true that Turkmenistan has provided its citizens with free amenities like water, gas, and electricity since 1993, shortly after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union. However, the provision does not exist today.
Google search with relevant keyword yielded a 2017 news article that reported about the then President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov’s plans to end the existing provision of offering free amenities to its citizens, due to deepening financial difficulties.
As per this report, the subsidies were introduced by Berdymukhamedov’s predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, in 1993. Under this scheme, every citizen is entitled to 35 kilowatt hours of electricity and 50 cubic meters of natural gas each month. The state also provides 250 liters (66 gallons) of water per day.
Saparmurat Niyazov first ordered in 1993 that all residents of the ex-Soviet republic receive gas, electricity, and water free of charge for a decade. In 2003, the promise was extended through 2020, and in 2006 he further extended it till 2030, reported another article in 2006.
However, in 2018, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov eventually signed the decision to end the free amenities and the move came into effect in 2019. Multiple news agencies reported the governments decision back then. Bad economic situation due to fall in energy prices and noticeable increase in the income of the population, are among the reasons mentioned behind the move.
To sum it up, Government is no longer offering free water, gas & electricity to citizens in Turkmenistan.


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Tweet degrading Congress President Rahul Gandhi by British Nationalist is from a fake twitter account - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 3, 2019
Several Facebook users are publishing posts embedding a tweet from a person named Brandon Davies, who describes himself as a British nationalist and student of politics covering the Indian elections. In the tweet, Brandon Davies goes on to write that, upon his analysis of 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 elections, he could say that he had never seen a PM Candidate as stupid as Rahul Gandhi. Let’s try to analyze the claims made in the post.The archived version of the post can be seen here.
A British nationalist and student of politics who covers the Indian elections, Mr. Brandon Davies claimed on Twitter that upon his analysis of 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014 elections, he could say that he had never seen a PM Candidate as stupid as Rahul Gandhi.
The man in the picture is a British sailor, George Mills. He died in a yacht accident that happened in South Africa on February 2, 2016. So, the recent tweet regarding Rahul Gandhi is from a fake twitter account created on the name of Brandon Davies using the pic of George Mills in its profile. Hence, the claim is FALSE.
When the image in the twitter account is run through Yandex Image Search Engine, a similar image was found in an article of the UK newspaper ‘The Irish Sun’. In the article, it was found that the man in the pic is 61-year-old British sailor, George Mills and he died in a yacht accident that happened in South Africa on February 2, 2016.
Using the information available in the FB post, on searching in Twitter, account with the same twitter handle in the FB posts @BrandonDav_ is found but with a changed profile pic and username ‘Comrade Brandon Davies’. The account seems to have been created recently in the month of March. In it, the tweet degrading Rahul Gandhi is posted on April 2, 2019. Now, this tweet is being embedded in several FB posts claiming the same.
Hence, the tweet degrading Rahul Gandhi is from a fake twitter account.


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Tweet from a fake handle is shared as Muskan Khan thanking the Taliban spokesman - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 14, 2022
A screenshot of a tweet purportedly made by Muskan Khan, the woman who was at the center of the Hijab controversy in Karnataka, is being shared widely on social media. In the posted tweet, it can be seen that she thanked the Afghan Taliban spokesman Inamullah Samangani for supporting her. Recently, Inamullah Samangani had tweeted about the hijab issue in Karnataka. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Screenshot of a tweet made by Muskan Khan thanking the Afghan Taliban spokesman for supporting her.
Fact: The tweet was not made by Muskan Khan. It is from a fake handle (‘@muskanind3467’) that does not exist now (at the time of writing this article). Muskan Khan told ‘Prajavani’ that she does not use Twitter or Facebook, and miscreants are spreading lies by opening fake accounts. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When we searched whether any such tweet was made by Muskan Khan, a tweet made by journalist Mahmodul Hassan was found. He wrote – “Muskan’s father Hussain Khan confirmed she has no Twitter accounts. There are scores of fake Twitter accounts impersonating Muskan made slanderous and malevolent remarks”. He has also listed various fake Twitter handles in Muskan’s name. Talking to ‘Prajavani’, Muskan said that she does not use Twitter or Facebook, and some are spreading lies by opening fake accounts.
The tweet in the posted screenshot was not made by Muskan Khan. It is from a handle (‘@muskanind3467’) that does not exist now (at the time of writing this article).
On looking at the archived tweets of that handle, it can be observed that sometimes, the replies are made to ‘@AmanTweets60’, which also does not exist now.
On comparing the Twitter IDs of ‘@AmanTweets60’ and ‘@muskanind3467’, it was found that both have the same Twitter ID (‘1481195182267977738’) [Twitter usernames can be changed but Twitter ID is unique to an account]. It can be concluded that before the handle name was changed to ‘@muskanind3467’, it was in the name of ‘@AmanTweets60’.  Hence, ‘@muskanind3467’ is a fake handle.
To sum it up, a tweet from a fake handle is being shared as Muskan Khan thanking the Taliban spokesman.

created: February 14, 2022


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Tweet from a fan account is misconstrued as Manmohan Singh's statement on banks being emptied - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 30, 2022
A social media post accompanying a screenshot of a tweet criticising the current state of Indian banks is being shared widely attributing the tweet to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The purported tweet is made from an account which carries a display picture & name of Manmohan Singh. And the comments below the screenshot indicates that people are perceiving that the tweet was indeed made by Manmohan Singh. The Hindi tweet loosely translates to ‘Leave what is inside the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar and Gyanvapi. Look at what’s left inside the Reserve Bank and the rest of the banks!’. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Manmohan Singh’s tweet criticising the current state of Indian banks and how they are being emptied.
Fact: Manmohan Singh does not maintain any twitter account. The viral tweet was made from a fan account. In fact, in recent times, Manmohan Singh did not make any comments criticising the status of Indian banks. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Manmohan Singh did not tweet this message criticising the current state of Indian banks. In fact, he does not maintain any Twitter account. The viral tweet was made from a parody account.
The Twitter handle through which the viral tweet was made reads ‘@aryanzalwar’. And in the bio section of the Twitter handle, it is clearly mentioned that is a fan page of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This tweet, criticising the status of Indian banks from a fan account is misconstrued as Manmohan Singh himself making such a statement.
In fact, in recent times, Manmohan Singh had not made any comments in line with the claim made in the tweet. There are no reports about any such statement by him.
Earlier in February this year, Manmohan Singh criticised current government for its economic policies. However, he did not comment on RBI or other Indian banks in his remarks.
To sum it up, Tweet from a fan account is misconstrued as Manmohan Singh criticising the Indian banks.


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Tweet regarding not conducting elections for the next 10 years was not made by Ranjan Gogoi - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 19, 2020
A photo of a tweet purportedly made by the former Chief Justice of India and current Rajya Sabha MP Ranjan Gogoi on not conducting elections for the next 10 years is being shared widely on social media. In the tweet, the following is mentioned – ‘To recover from the economic loss due to COVID-19, it is better not to conduct elections for the next 10 years as elections involve huge expenditure. Let Modi continue as PM’ (English translation). Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Ranjan Gogoi tweeted that it is better not to conduct elections for the next 10 years.
Fact: Ranjan Gogoi does not have an official Twitter account. The account mentioned in the post does not exist now. But, when looked at the archived version of tweets made from the account, it was found that it is a ‘parody fan page’. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When searched for the Twitter account of Ranjan Gogoi, it was found that he does not have an official account on Twitter. So, when searched for the account (@TheRanjanGoGoi) given in the post, it was found that the account does not exist now.
On looking at the archived tweets of the profile, it was found that the profile was run by a fan. In the description of the profile, the following was written – ‘parody fan page account run by fan’. So, the tweet was not made by Ranjan Gogoi.
Also, in one of the archived tweets, it was found that the profile once posted a picture of Nita Ambani.
To sum it up, a tweet regarding not conducting elections for the next 10 years was not made by Ranjan Gogoi.
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Tweet saying Rihanna would name her baby after Rakesh Tikait is digitally edited - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 5, 2022
A social media post claiming that ‘Rihanna named her baby after Indian farmer protestor ‘Rakesh Tikait’ is being shared widely across all platforms. The post shares a purported screenshot of a tweet by a UK-based news agency ‘The Independent’ which shares an image of Rihanna with an accompanying text which reads ‘Rihanna named her baby after Indian farmer protestor Tikait’. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Rihanna named her baby after Indian farmer protestor Rakesh Tikait.
Fact: Rihanna has not made any such announcement saying she would name her baby after Indian farmer leader Rakesh Tikait. There are no reports in this regard. Further, the screenshot of the viral ‘the Independent’ tweet is digitally edited. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
There are no such reports about Rihanna planning to name her baby after Indian farmer leader Rakesh Tikait. Further, if Rihanna had indeed made any announcement in this regard, the entire media would have reported it. However, we could not find any such reports.
As far as the screenshot of ‘The Independent’ tweet is concerned, The Independent shared the same article on 14 March 2022 (here). However, the text accompanying the actual tweet is the same as the title of the article, which is ‘Rihanna reflects on rebellious pregnancy style’. However, the text accompanying this article has been edited in the viral tweet.
Thus, it is evident that the viral screenshot is created digitally by editing the 14 March tweet of ‘The Independent’. Further, the verified symbol visible in the viral screenshot also proves that it is digitally created, as it is darker in colour compared to the actual one.
Earlier on 02 February 2021, Rihanna tweeted about farmers protesting against the farm laws in India. It is in this context the news about her baby is linked to the farmers’ leader. However, none of the ‘The Independent’ articles (here and here) or for that matter the reports of any other news agency mention any such news in line with the claim. Hence, all these establish that the viral news of Rihanna naming her baby after Rakesh Tikait is not true.
why aren’t we talking about this?! #FarmersProtest https://t.co/obmIlXhK9S
To sum it up, the purported screenshot of the tweet saying Rihanna would name her baby after Rakesh Tikait is digitally edited.


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Twitter account impersonating ‘Mukesh Ambani’ claims Sharukh Khan was removed from ‘Jio’ sim card ads - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 23, 2020
Screenshot of a tweet purportedly made by Mukesh Ambani is making rounds on social media. The tweet is from the Twitter handle ‘@Realmukeshamban’ and has a profile picture of Reliance Industries Chairman and Director Mukesh Ambani. The tweet states that by taking the public sentiment of the countrymen into consideration, Shahrukh Khan was removed from the ‘Jio’ sim card ads, and was replaced by Akshay Kumar. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Mukesh Ambani tweeted that Shahrukh Khan was removed from ‘Jio’ sim card ads and was replaced by Akshay Kumar.
Fact: Reliance Industries Chairman and Director Mukesh Ambani does not have an official Twitter account. The tweet is from an impersonating account of ‘Mukesh Ambani’. Also, no information was found about the removal of Sharukh Khan from ‘Jio’ sim card ads. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When searched for the twitter profile (‘@Realmukeshamban’) mentioned in the screenshot, the description of the account is in improper English language and is as follows – ‘Chairman and director of reliance industries. This account is handling mukesh ambani’s media panel team’. When the account was analyzed on ‘Foller me’, a Twitter analytics tool, the account was known to be created recently on 4 June 2020, and had 10.5k followers till the time of writing this article.
The Twitter account (‘@Realmukeshamban’) has many tweets with personal comments on several Bollywood actors. If those tweets were really made by Mukesh Ambani, they would have surely been reported in the media, but no such news was found on the internet. There are no media reports about Akshay Kumar replacing Sharukh Khan in Jio advertisements as well. Also, Mukesh Ambani does not hold any official account on Twitter.
To sum it up, a fake Twitter account impersonating Mukesh Ambani has tweeted that Sharukh Khan was removed from ‘Jio’ sim’s ads.
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Two unrelated images are being shared alleging that Virat Kohli dined on beef at Gordan Ramsay’s restaurant - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 14, 2023
A screenshot of a restaurant bill is circulating on social media, suggesting that Virat Kohli dined on beef at Gordon Ramsay’s renowned restaurant in Florida, USA. This image of the bill is paired with another photo showing the Indian cricketer seated at a table with his wife and daughter. The post also alleges that Virat adopted this dietary choice to enhance his ability to hit sixes, following advice from Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam. In this article, we’ll fact-check the assertions made.
Claim: Restaurant bill suggesting that Virat Kohli dined on beef at Gordon Ramsay’s renowned restaurant in Florida, USA.
Fact: The viral screenshot of the restaurant bill is related to an American couple, who misread the menu and ended up with an obscenely high bill at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant located at the Atlantic City Hotel and Casino. The bill has nothing to do with Virat Kohli. Further, there are no reports of Virat Kohli dining at the said restaurant. Moreover, the photo of Virat Kohli seated at a table with his wife and daughter was taken in Dubai, where the cricketer was seen having breakfast with his family during the ICC T20 World Cup, in October 2021. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The viral screenshot of a restaurant bill indeed indicates that a patron consumed beef at Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant. However, it wasn’t the Indian cricketer but rather an American couple in New Jersey, USA, who enjoyed a dinner date there. A Google search using relevant keywords led us to several news reports featuring identical bill screenshots (here, here & here).
As per these reports dating back to December 2021, the couple misread the menu and ended up with an obscenely high bill. “The man, Jeffrey Paige, had ordered premier Japanese Kobe beef after having misread the price. He expected Kobe only $35 (Rs.2500) for 4 ounces. Thinking the 5A Japanese Kobe to be cheaper than American Wagyu, he ordered 12 ounces of it. However, he soon realized his mistake when he was served a bill of $600 or Rs. 45,000. This incident occurred at a restaurant called Gordon Ramsay Steak, located at the Atlantic City Hotel and Casino”, reported the article.
These reports confirm that the bill is unrelated to Virat Kohli and has been inaccurately associated with him. Additionally, we found no reports of the Indian cricketer dining at this restaurant. Moreover, the photo of Virat Kohli seated at a table with his wife and daughter was taken in Dubai, where the cricketer was seen having breakfast with his family during the ICC T20 World Cup, in October 2021. Kohli shared the picture on his Twitter handle.
❤ pic.twitter.com/Dfv0qh7sAQ
While there are reports that Virat Kohli is likely to be excluded from the T20 World Cup squad, as claimed in the widely circulated post, we found no credible reports supporting the claim that Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam advised Virat Kohli to consume beef to enhance his six-hitting prowess. It can be concluded that two unrelated images are incorrectly associated with Virat Kohli, falsely implying that he consumed beef.
To sum it up, two unrelated images are being shared alleging that Virat Kohli dined on beef at Gordan Ramsay’s restaurant.

created: December 14, 2023


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Two unrelated incidents from two different quarantine centers have been clubbed to mislead people - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 26, 2020
A video of a man kicking food is being shared widely on social media with a claim that Shiraj Ahmed & Bhujouli Kurd have refused to eat food cooked by a Dalit woman at a quarantine centre. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Shiraj Ahmed & Bhujouli Kurd refusing to eat food cooked by a Dalit woman at a quarantine center.
Fact: The video was taken at a quarantine center in Bihar. The men in the video have asked the women cooks to serve them food without following social distancing. When the women denied, they kicked the food placed on the bench. There is no Dalit angle in the incident. An FIR was filed on Pankaj, Manoj, and Ashok. In another incident, Shiraj Ahmed, a resident of Bhujouli Khurd village (Uttar Pradesh), has refused to eat food cooked by a Dalit woman at a quarantine center in the village. So, the video of an incident in Bihar is being shared with the claim related to an incident in Uttar Pradesh. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Incident 1:
When the screenshots of the video were run through the Google Reverse Image Search, an article by ‘Dainik Bhaskar’ was found in the search results. In the article, it can be read that the incident in the video took place at a quarantine center in Bihar. When the women cooks went to serve them food, the migrants (Pankaj Kumar Rai, Manoj Kumar Rai, and Ashok Sahne) have asked the women to serve them food without following social distancing. When the women denied, they kicked the food placed on the bench. The same can be read in the ‘Jagran’ article.
In an article by ‘ABP Bihar’, it can be read that an FIR has been filed in the incident and also, the pictures of the complaint can be found. There is a mention of the bad quality of food in the ‘ABP Bihar’ article, but no Dalit angle was mentioned in any of the news reports.
Incident 2:
When searched with the keywords given in the claim, many news articles related to the incident were found in the search results. In the ‘Outlook’ article, it can be read that ‘a 35-year-old man (Siraj Ahmad) has been booked by the police for refusing to eat food at a quarantine center on the ground that it had been cooked by a Dalit. Siraj Ahmad, a native of Bhujouli Khurd village under Khadda police station in Kushinagar district, had returned from Delhi on March 29, and was staying at the quarantine center at the village primary school along with other four people’. The FIR related to the incident can be read here.
To sum it up, two unrelated food incidents from two different quarantine centers have been clubbed to mislead people.
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