Fact-Check: Murder in Jabalpur Resort Given a False Communal Spin

Jabalpur SP told The Quint that the accused is a Hindu, and the incident is being given a false communal spin.

(Trigger Warning: Description of violence.)

A video showing a man standing and talking near a severely-injured woman in what appears to be a hotel room is going viral on the internet.

What about the video? : The 14-second-clip shows blood on the floor, and a man can be heard saying, “Don’t ever cheat”. He then turns to a woman lying on the bed in a pool of blood, seemingly gasping for air.

What does the claim say? : Several social media users have shared the video claiming that the man was a Muslim and the incident occurred in a resort in Madhya Pradesh (MP). These posts also warn Hindu girls to stay away from the Muslim community.

(Note: We have refrained from adding any archive links due to the distressing nature of the visuals.)

What is the truth?: The accused and the victim in the incident belonged to the Hindu community. The accused is called Hemant Rajendra Bhadane, a resident of Nasik, Maharashtra.

How did we find the truth? : The Quint had reported on the incident on Wednesday, 16 November.

• The man allegedly slit the victim Shilpa Jharia's throat at Mekhala Resort in Jabalpur. After this, he recorded himself saying, "Bewafai nahi karne ka" (Don't ever cheat). 

• The incident is said to have happened on 7 November, but since the accused locked the room after he left, the hotel staff informed the police only on 8 November.

The videos recorded by the accused: The accused recorded three videos.

• The first one is the viral clip being shared on social media platforms.

• The second clip showed the accused revealing personal details. He identified himself as 'Abhijeet Patidar'. He alleged that the victim had affairs with him and his business partner Jitendra Kumar and that she had run away with his partner's money.

• In the third social media post, he was heard saying in Hindi, "Dear, we will now meet in Heaven."

What did the police say? :

• The Quint spoke to SP Jabalpur Siddharth Bahugana, who confirmed that the accused is not a Muslim and the entire incident is being given a false communal angle.

• He said, "It's a bad attempt to create such kind of atmosphere. He is a criminal, and we are after him, and we will catch him soon. The accused is a Hindu, and the entire incident is being given a false communal spin."

• Mukesh Joga, Inspector General, Jabalpur range, told The Quint that the accused's name was Hemant Rajendra Bhadane, a resident of Nasik, Maharashtra, and he is named in around 37 cases.

Conclusion: The video of a man allegedly killing a woman in Mekhala Resort in Jabalpur is being shared by giving it a false communal spin.

Editor's note: The copy has been updated with the real name of the accused, who was arrested by the police in Rajasthan on 19 November.

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