Lucknow, July 15 – A photograph of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi taken inside a Lucknow courtroom has sparked a wave of misinformation, after BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya and others falsely claimed that the man taking a selfie with Gandhi was the judge hearing his case. The man in the image has now been identified as Advocate Syed Mahmood Hasan, not a member of the judiciary.

The image was taken on Tuesday 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. The case relates to remarks Gandhi allegedly made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During the hearing, Special Judge H.R. Yadav granted him bail.

After the proceedings, several people including lawyers took photos with Gandhi inside the court premises. One of those images, featuring Advocate Syed Mahmood Hasan taking a selfie, was shared by multiple social media users — including BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya — who falsely claimed the man was the judge presiding over the case.

The misleading narrative raised serious concerns about judicial impartiality, and was widely amplified by IT cell accounts and influencers. However, the claim was swiftly debunked by fact-checkers and media outlets.

Fact-checker Mohammed Zubair of Alt News took to X (formerly Twitter) to counter the misinformation. Sharing screenshots of Malviya’s tweet, Zubair wrote:
"BJP IT cell head @amitmalviya deleted this tweet after it was pointed out that he was an advocate Syed Mahmood Hasan and not a Judge. Other IT cell members are yet to delete."

Advocate Syed Mahmood Hasan, a resident of Barabanki and practicing lawyer at the Lucknow District Court since 2006, also clarified his identity. “I had gone to meet Rahul Gandhi. I am not a judge, I am just a lawyer,” he told local media. “I admire him and simply took a selfie, like many others present.”

Legal experts and civil society members have criticised the deliberate spread of such false claims, pointing out the damage it causes to public trust in judicial institutions. The court's bail order, passed by Judge H.R. Yadav, had no connection to the viral photograph or the advocate involved.

Despite the clarification and Malviya deleting his tweet, many others from BJP's digital ecosystem continue to circulate the misleading post without correction.

Critics say this incident is part of a larger pattern of political disinformation and underlines the need for stronger moderation and accountability on social media platforms.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Belthangady: Labourers have begun digging operations near the Netravati bathing ghat in Dharmasthala at a riverside location identified by the key witness in the ongoing investigation.

Despite heavy rainfall hampering the operation, workers have commenced excavation at the first spot marked by the complainant. The SIT has prioritised this location as part of its search for possible buried remains. 

The development has drawn large crowds, with hundreds of curious onlookers gathering near the Netravati ghat to witness the activity. Once excavation at the initial site is complete, the team is expected to move on to the next identified location. 

Officials have indicated that the search team is likely to exit the forest area only during the midday meal break.