After being detained on October 13 at the Delhi headquarters of the National Commission of Women over a contentious video in which Gopal Italia, Gujarat leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, is purportedly heard using derogatory language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was freed after three hours of detention.
Against this backdrop, an image showing the AAP leader standing inside a jail is widely shared on social media linking it to his recent detention.
The image is shared on Facebook with a caption: “BJP को पटेल समाज के लोगों से इतनी नफ़रत क्यों है? गुजरात में गोपाल इटालिया की लोकप्रियता बढ़ने लगी, चुनाव में हार का डर सताने लगा तो दिल्ली में BJP की पुलिस ने गोपाल इटालिया को गिरफ़्तार कर लिया। पटेल समाज इस अपमान का बदला ज़रूर लेगा। #isupportGopalItaliya” (English translation: Why BJP hates the Patel community so much? Gopal Italia’s popularity started increasing in Gujarat when the fear of defeat in the election started haunting BJP, and then the police arrested Italia in Delhi. Patel Samaj will surely avenge this insult. #isupportGopalItaliya)
Here’s the link to the above post.
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the above claim, and found it to be MISLEADING.
Doing a simple Reverse Image Search, we found a news report, published by a Gujarati newspaper Divya Bhaskar in May 2022, carrying the same viral image. According to the report, “A case of rioting was registered in the Udhana police station against 16, including AAP state president Gopal Italia, in the scuffle between AAP and BJP workers in front of BJP office.”
Searching further, we also found a video report by TV9 Gujarati, dated May 2, 2022, that stated: “10 AAP workers, including Gopal Italia, arrested under rioting case in Surat.” The video report also carried glimpses of the viral image.
On May 2, Gujarati AAP leader Isudan Gadhvi also tweeted the same image of Gopal Italia.
યાદ રાખજો એક દિવસ આ ક્રાંતિકારી ભાજપના તાનાશાહોને ધૂળ ચટાવશે !!!જે લડી શકે છે એ જ જીતી શકે છે !!લડેંગે જીતેંગે !@Gopal_Italia @GulabMatiala pic.twitter.com/oCOs2QCWmT
— Isudan Gadhvi (@isudan_gadhvi) May 2, 2022
Moreover, several media reports stated that Italia was not arrested but detained by the Delhi police on October 13.
Thus, it is evident from the above information that an old image of Gopal Italia’s arrest is being falsely linked to his recent detention.
If you want to fact-check any story, WhatsApp it now on +91 11 7127 979l9
Click here for Latest News updates and viral videos n our AI-powered smart news
