Fact Check: Scripted Video Misrepresented as DM Slapped at Maha Kumbh

New Delhi: A video recently circulated on social media, with users claiming it showed an altercation between a top government official and a reporter over the entitlement of VVIP culture during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. The video begins with a reporter questioning a car driver navigating a crowded street. When asked for an explanation, the driver responded that VIPs were seated in the back. However, as the reporter questioned the need for VIP treatment at a religious gathering, a man—who identified himself as the District Magistrate—suddenly exited the car and confronted him. The situation escalated, with the reporter allegedly slapping the official as well. However, the PTI Fact Check Desk investigated and found this claim to be false. The video was discovered to be scripted and falsely presented as a real incident.

Claim

A Facebook user shared a February 17 video alleging an altercation between a reporter and a District Magistrate during the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025.

The video allegedly showed the reporter reprimanding the District Magistrate over the entitlement of VVIP culture during the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. He was also seen allegedly slapping the official.

Here is the link and archive link to the post, along with a screenshot.

Investigation

The Desk ran the viral video through the InVid tool and extracted multiple keyframes. Upon running one of the keyframes through Google Lens, the Desk found several other users shared the same video with similar claims.

Two such posts can be seen here and here, with their archived versions available here and here, respectively.

The search results also led the Desk to a YouTube video shared by a channel named Harsh Rajput on February 12. The YouTube video (which contained the content seen in the viral post at the 4:01 timestamp) included a dramatic depiction of multiple instances that went viral on social media during the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025.

Here is the link to the post, along with a screenshot.

In the next part of the investigation, as the Desk carefully scanned the video, it found a disclaimer at the 5-second timestamp stating that the video was a scripted sketch made for entertainment.

Here is a screenshot highlighting the same.

The search result found it situated at Ghantaghar Ramlila Ground in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Here is a street view of Shri Ram Dwar's location.

Below is a combination image highlighting that the visuals of Ram Dwar seen in the viral video match that of the Ram Dwar situated at Ghantaghar Ramlila Ground in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the viral video was scripted and not an actual incident from Maha Kumbh 2025.

CLAIM

A video circulating on social media claims to show an altercation between a reporter and a District Magistrate over the entitlement of VVIP culture during the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj.

FACT

The Desk investigated the video and found it scripted and falsely presented as an actual incident.

CONCLUSION

Multiple social media users recently shared a video claiming that a reporter and a District Magistrate had an altercation over VVIP privileges during the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. The viral clip allegedly shows the reporter slapping the official. However, the Desk investigating the video found it to be scripted. The video was initially posted on YouTube by a content creator, who had included a disclaimer stating it was a dramatised sketch made for entertainment purposes. Further analysis also confirmed that the video was filmed at Ghantaghar Ramlila Ground in Ghaziabad, not in Prayagraj.

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This article was first written by Vaidehi Jahagirdar/Pratyush Ranjan for PTIFact Check, and republished by Deccan Chronicle as part of the Shakti Collective Fact Check initiative).