Viral selfie with Rahul Gandhi sparks false claims online; Advocate clarifies he is not Judge
Lucknow, July 15: A photograph of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi taken during his court appearance in Lucknow on Tuesday has gone viral on social media, sparking misleading claims that the man seen taking a selfie with him inside the court premises was the judge hearing the case. However, fact-checks and official clarifications have confirmed that the individual is not a judge but a practicing lawyer.
The incident took place at the Special MP-MLA Court in Lucknow, where Rahul Gandhi appeared in connection with a 2018 defamation case filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra over remarks allegedly made by Gandhi against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The court granted him bail during the hearing.
Amid his visit to the court, several people, including lawyers, were seen interacting with and taking pictures with the Congress leader. One such selfie was widely circulated on social media platforms, with many claiming that the person in the photograph was the judge handling the case. The claim, which suggested judicial bias, was shared by several political pages and influencers, causing confusion among the public.
A fact-check conducted by Vartha Bharati confirmed that the individual in the selfie is not a judge but Advocate Syed Mahmood Hasan, a lawyer practicing in the Lucknow District Court since 2006 and a resident of Barabanki.
Speaking to media outlets, Advocate Hasan dismissed the viral claims. “I had gone to meet Rahul Gandhi, but I am not a judge. I am just a lawyer,” he said. Hasan added that he admired Gandhi and, like many others present, simply took the opportunity to click a photo with him.
The court proceedings were presided over by Special Judge H.R. Yadav, who heard the matter and granted bail as per procedure. Officials clarified that the selfie incident had no impact on the legal outcome of the case.
The viral misinformation appears to be part of an orchestrated campaign to cast doubt on the impartiality of the judiciary.
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Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
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Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
