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In a case of political misinformation gone viral, footage showing a man being assaulted by a group of individuals has sparked controversy across social media platforms. The video, which shows a visibly distressed man seated on a sofa being physically attacked while a woman attempts to intervene, has been widely shared with misleading claims regarding his identity.
Social media users have been incorrectly identifying the man as “Congress MP Aditya from Karnataka,” claiming he was attacked by the public over allegations of sexual harassment, sharing obscene photos, and blackmailing women. One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote: “The public has thrashed this ‘youth leader Aditya’ over allegations of sexual harassment, sharing molestation photos and blackmailing women. Have you seen this news in any media? Have you seen any outrage from the ‘secular feminists’? No. No, because this youth leader is Aditya, the Congress MP from Karnataka.”
A thorough investigation into these claims reveals significant inaccuracies. First and foremost, there is no Congress Member of Parliament from Karnataka named Aditya. The Indian National Congress currently holds nine Lok Sabha seats from Karnataka, represented by E Thukaram (Bellary), G Kumar Naik (Raichur), K Rajashekar Basavaraj Hitnal (Koppal), Priyanka Jarkiholi (Chikkodi), M Shreyas Patel (Hassan), Prabha Mallikarjun (Davanagere), Radhakrishna (Gulbarga), Sagar Eshwar Khandre (Bidar) and Sunil Bose (Chamarajanagar).
In the Rajya Sabha, the Congress party is represented by five members from Karnataka: Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh, Ajay Maken, Syed Naseer Hussain, and GC Chandrashekhar. The absence of any MP named Aditya conclusively disproves the central claim in the viral posts.
The truth behind the video is less sensational but still serious. The footage, which was posted by The Siasat Daily on October 29, shows a Congress party leader from Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, who was indeed arrested on October 28. According to an NDTV report published on October 29 titled “Karnataka Congress Leader Charged With Sexual Harassment, Misusing Photo,” the man in question is Aditya, a former Youth Congress vice-president of Aldur Hobli in Chikkamagaluru city.
The local police took action following a complaint filed by a woman from Jayanagar. The Chikkamagaluru City Police registered a case (Crime No. 182/25) against Aditya under multiple legal provisions, including sections 75(2) and 78 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), sections 67 and 67(A) of the Information Technology Act, and section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.
The video appears to show residents of the area taking matters into their own hands and physically assaulting Aditya after allegations against him surfaced on social media. While the assault depicted in the video raises concerns about vigilante justice, the misrepresentation of Aditya’s position highlights the growing problem of misinformation in politically charged contexts.
This incident serves as a reminder of how quickly false information can spread across social media platforms, particularly when it involves political figures. The deliberate mischaracterization of a local youth leader as a member of parliament appears designed to amplify the political implications of the incident and potentially influence public opinion regarding the Congress party.
Fact-checking remains essential in an era where visual evidence can be decontextualized and repurposed to serve partisan narratives. While Aditya is indeed a Congress leader facing serious allegations, his misidentification as an MP represents a concerning trend of information manipulation in India’s digital landscape.
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4 Comments
Misinformation and false accusations can be very damaging, especially for public figures. It’s important to verify facts before jumping to conclusions or spreading unsubstantiated claims, even if they seem to align with a certain narrative. Careful investigation is needed to uncover the truth in this case.
This is a complex case with conflicting claims. It’s good the facts are being clarified to avoid the spread of misinformation. However, it’s concerning if a public figure was falsely accused and assaulted. I hope the truth comes to light and those responsible are held accountable.
Interesting that there is no Congress MP named Aditya from Karnataka, as the social media claims suggest. This highlights the need to be skeptical of unverified information, especially when it involves sensitive issues like harassment allegations. Rigorous fact-checking is crucial to avoid perpetuating falsehoods.
This case underscores the importance of responsible journalism and fact-checking, rather than simply reacting to sensational social media posts. I hope the truth is uncovered so that justice can be served, whether the accusations were true or false.