Fake Gaurav Bhatia Quote On Swatantra Bhardwaj Shared By CJP Leaders

A viral social media campaign featuring a quote attributed to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia has been exposed as a fabrication. The graphic, which circulated widely among political circles and social media users, purportedly showed Bhatia making controversial remarks regarding Swatantra Bhardwaj. However, an investigation by fact-checking outlet BOOM Live has confirmed that no such statement was ever made by the spokesperson.

The fabricated image utilized the branding and graphic template of NBT Hindi News to lend an air of legitimacy to the claim. Upon investigation, representatives from NBT Hindi News confirmed that the graphic did not originate from their newsroom and explicitly rubbished the content as fake. The outlet noted that the design and font usage were inconsistent with their standard editorial output.

This incident highlights the growing challenge of misinformation in Indian digital discourse, where doctored media assets are frequently used to target political figures and influence public perception. By mimicking the visual identity of established news organizations, bad actors attempt to bypass the critical scrutiny of social media users. Experts warn that such tactics are increasingly common in the lead-up to political debates, urging the public to verify claims through official channels or reputable news outlets before sharing.