From Photoshopped Images to Scripted Videos, Here’s Our Weekly WebQoof Roundup

From photoshopped images shared with false claims to scripted videos passed off on social media as real.

From photoshopped images to scripted videos shared as real on social media with misleading claims.

(Photo: Kamran Akhter/The Quint)

From a photoshopped tweet claiming that news channel News24 has apologised to Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav for trying to defame his party at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to scripted videos shared on social media as real with misleading claims, here's what misled the public this week.

1. News24 Didn't Apologise to Akhilesh Yadav, Screenshot of the Tweet is Photoshopped

The screenshot of a tweet carrying a breaking news graphic plate from a news bulletin from News24 has gone viral. The tweet was shared to claim that the news channel "apologised to Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav for trying to defame his party at the behest of BJP".

The text in the graphic plate read that Kanpur businessperson Piyush Jain, who was arrested for tax evasion was a member of the BJP.

The claim stated the news channel News24 had apologised to Akhilesh Yadav for "defaming" SP at the behest of BJP. 

(Photo: The Quint)

However, we found that the tweet was fabricated as we could spot several discrepancies. The channel has also clarified that the viral post was fake.

You can read our fact-check here.

2. Scripted Video of a Man Attempting To Kidnap School Girl Shared as Real Incident

A video of a man speaking to a school girl and later attempting to kidnap her went viral on social media. The video was also shared in a tweet by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Delhi’s media head, Naveen Kumar Jindal, who praised the girl and her parents for her presence of mind.

The archived version of this post can be accessed here.

(Source: Twitter/Screenshot)

However, we found that the video is a scripted one made for "educational purposes" only which is being passed off as a real incident.

You can read our fact-check here.

3. Girl Stabbed in Bihar's Gopalganj, Incident Shared With a False Communal Spin

A CCTV footage which shows a boy stabbing a girl multiple times is being shared with a communal spin to claim that the boy, who belonged to the Muslim community, attacked the Hindu girl because she refused his advances.

The claim is being shared with the hashtag 'Love Jihad'.

The claim is being shared with the hashtag 'love jihad'. 

(Photo: The Quint)

However, we found the incident happened in Bihar's Gopalganj when a boy stabbed a girl, who had complained about him pursuing her friend to the principal. There is no communal angle as both the accused and the survivor are Muslims.

You can read our fact-check here.

4. Did Aamir Khan & Fatima Sana Shaikh Get Married? No, Photos Are Morphed

Two morphed photographs of Bollywood actors Aamir Khan and Fatima Sana Shaikh have gone viral on social media with a claim that the two got married, making her Khan's third wife.

The original photograph showed Aamir with ex-wife Kiran Rao.

(Photo: Facebook/NDTV/Altered by The Quint)

In the original image Aamir was seen with Avantika Malik.

(Source: Facebook/MissMalini/Altered by The Quint)

We found both the photos are morphed. While one of the original photographs showed Khan with his ex-wife Kiran Rao, the other photograph showed him with nephew Imran Khan's estranged wife Avantika Malik.

You can read our fact-check here.

5. Photo of Muslim Family From Bangladesh Falsely Shared as One From Rajasthan

A photogragh is being shared to claim that it shows a family of five from Rajasthan, who had recently converted to Islam from Hinduism.

The archived version of this post can be accessed here.

(Source: Facebook/Screenshot)

However, we found that the photograph is actually from Narsingdi, Bangladesh. According to reports, the mother, identified as one Asma Begum had converted to Islam four years ago and her children recently followed suit.

You can read our fact-check here.

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9643651818, or e-mail it to us at [e-mail] and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)