No, the Video Does Not Show Congress MLA Threatening a Policeman in Karnataka

We found that the video is from Telangana and shows an AIMIM leader Jaffar Hussain Meraj.

Fact-Check | The video is being falsely shared as one from Karnataka.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

A video is being shared on the internet with a claim that it shows Congress MLAs threatening a policeman in Karnataka after the party's victory in the state assembly elections.

An archive of the post can be seen here.

(Source: (Twitter/Screenshot)

(More archives of similar claims can be found here, here, and here.)

Are these claims true?: No, the video is from Telangana and shows Jaffar Hussain Meraj, who is an MLA from Nampally, speaking to a policeman.

• Meraj is a member of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen party (AIMIM), not the Congress party.

• In a longer version of the video, he is seen asking to meet the Superintendent of Police (SP) of the area.

What led us to the truth?: We noticed some text on the bottom of the video that said, "Jafar Hussain Meraj Sb (MLA, Nampally) In Jagtial." It also carried a symbol of AIMIM.

Several hints were found in the video.

(Source: Viral video/Screenshot/Altered by The Quint)

• It should be noted that Jagtial is a district in Telangana.

• Taking a cue from the hints, we performed a keyword search, leading us to a Facebook post on the official handle of AIMIM.

• It was uploaded on 11 May. The text at the bottom of the video said, "AIMIM MLA and AIMIM team in Jagtiyal (sic)".

• In the video, Meraj can be seen asking the policeman if the SP wants to meet him. He can be heard saying that he wanted to discuss about a case.

News reports: A Google Lens search led us to a report published on Deccan Chronicle which carried a visual from the viral video.

• It said that a Jagtial Rural sub-inspector (SI) named A Anil was suspended on the charges of attacking two women in a passenger bus.

• Meraj, on the instructions of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, visited the house of the student involved in the incident.

• Several leaders later joined the victim and went to the SP's office but failed to get an appointment.

• It further mentioned that Meraj asked how the sub-inspector could intercept the bus and abuse the student. He also warned of agitation.

The report was published on 11 May.

(Source: Deccan Chronicle/Screenshot)

What was the incident?: According to Telangana Today, the constable's wife had an argument with a student named Sheik Farha over a seat while both of them were travelling from Karimnagar to Jagtial.

• Following the argument, the SI's wife informed him about the incident.

• The SI then boarded the bus in Jagtial and questioned Farha.

• When Farha was trying to record their conversation on her phone, he snatched it and allegedly slapped her. Another constable allegedly attacked Farha's mother.

• A case was registered against the SI, his wife, and another constable under sections 290 (whoever commits a public nuisance), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code.

Conclusion: It is clear that the video is being shared with a false claim stating that a Congress leader was seen threatening a police officer in Karnataka.

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