A video showing one man cleaning the table with the Indian national flag is doing the rounds on social media. The post alleges that the video features the Deputy Registrar of Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, disrespecting the national flag.
The video has been shared with a caption: “This gentleman is said to be the Deputy Registrar of Anantapur, who is using the pride of our nation, the national flag, to clean the table and wipe his hands. Should such people be charged with treason and sent to jail while being beaten with shoes, or not?”
Similar claims can be seen here, here and here. (Archive link)
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the claim, and found it to be fake.
Performing a Reverse Image Search of the viral video keyframes, the NM team traced a news report by Odisha Bytes, an Odia media outlet, on January 12, 2023, with a title: “Viral Video: Panchayat EO Uses Tricolour To Clean Office In Odisha’s Puri!” The video shows an executive officer (EO) of a panchayat in Puri district, Odisha, who was caught using the Indian National flag to clean office furniture. The accused was identified as Prashant Kumar Swain of Simili panchayat in Gop block of the Puri district.
The same report had also been published by The Times of India.
Later, a case was registered against Swain under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, 1971, following a complaint filed by Minati Sahu, a Panchayat Samiti member.
A subsequent search led us to a media report on Odisha TV with updates saying Prashant Swain was seen apologising for his actions. Following the outrage, he appeared in front of the media and expressed regret, saying,“It was a mistake… and unintentional. I was preoccupied with many things at the office. It is condemnable, and I am extremely sorry for that… I will ensure it is not repeated in the future.” Later, the EO was arrested by the police for violating the Flag Code of India.
We also came across a post on the official X handle of the Fact Check Wing of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, dated January 23, 2023. The post clarified that the video did not originate from Anantapur but Odisha.
Thus, it is confirmed that this 2023 viral video is not from Andhra Pradesh but Odisha.
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