Man in Civilian Clothes Is Delhi Cop, Not ABVP’s Bharat Sharma

The Quint’s reporter has independently verified that the man seen in the image is constable Arvind Kumar.

Several social media users claimed that the man seen in the image is ABVP member Bharat Sharma.

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Altered by The Quint)

The Delhi Police crackdown on students of the Jamia Millia Islamia University for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act on Sunday, 15 December, has snowballed into massive protest by several universities across the country.

Amid the clash between Delhi police and Jamia students, social media is filled with claims and counterclaims.

One such claim is that a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was dressed as a police personnel at the time of the incident.

The image shows screenshot of ABVP's Bharat Sharma’s Facebook profile (left) and a man dressed in civilian clothes with a helmet on his head, lathi in his hand, and bulletproof jacket.

NCP leader Jitendra Awhad, among many other social media users, shared the image with the same narrative.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/ Screengrab)

Man in the Video is Constable Arvind Kumar: DCP South East Delhi

In order to track the person in the post, The Quint’s reporter contacted DCP South East Delhi who identified the cop as constable Arvind Kumar. He further denied that he is a part of any student organisation.

Further, Kumar has spoken to the media and told reporters that the man in the video is indeed him and that he works for the Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) South Delhi. He also added that he was called on the spot on Sunday.

The Quint accessed a photo of the cop and our reporter has independently verified that the person in the picture is indeed Kumar and not an ABVP member, as claimed in the viral posts.

On the left, a photo of Arvind Kumar provided by the Delhi Police.(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Additional PRO of Delhi Police Anil Mittal also said that the man seen in the image is not associated with any student organisation.

“He is a part of the police force and his name is Arvind Kumar. He is not an ABVP member, as claimed. He was called on the spot which is outside Jamia and since he was called on a short notice, he was in civilian clothes,” the official added.

Victim of Propoganda: Bharat Sharma

The Quint also got in touch with Bharat Sharma who said that he is an ABVP member and a law student of Delhi University, and said that he is not the man seen in the viral photo.

“I want to make it clear on record that I have nothing to do with that side of the picture that has the man in civilian clothes with police bulletproof jacket and that man is not me. I am just a student.”

Bharat Sharma, ABVP Member

He added that he has currently deactivated his profile due to the barrage of threats that he has been receiving after the post went viral.

“I was getting a lot of abusive content. Pictures of my sister and mother were being shared. I am getting a lot of threats and calls. I am a victim of this propaganda. I have deactivated the Facebook account.”

Bharat also took to Twitter and said he will file a defamation suit.

(Editor’s note: The story has been updated to add that The Quint has independently verified that the man in police gear is Constable Arvind Kumar.)

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