Fact Check: Has YouTuber Dhruv Rathee Been Wrongly Accused For Fake Message Post?

Mumbai: Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee is in trouble after a parody account purportedly posted a fake message on social media platform X about Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s daughter Anjali Birla.

According to Maharashtra’s cyber police, which filed a case against Rathee, the post stated that the Speaker’s daughter had cleared the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam without appearing for it.

The message was posted from an account with the handle @dhruvrahtee, police stated.

“This is a fan and parody account and is not affiliated with the original account of @dhruvrathee. I am not impersonating anyone. This account is parody,” reads the bio of the account.

A furious Rathee blasted a media house for dragging his name without checking facts.

“Go use your eyes to see that this alleged post was made by some random parody Twitter account. I have nothing to do with this,” the YouTuber said.

Police have charged Rathee under BNS sections for defamation, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, and statement leading to mischief, as well as under sections of the IT Act after a complaint by a relative of Birla.

When it was pointed out that the alleged fake message was posted by a parody account, and not the one belonging to Rathee, a police official said the matter was being investigated.

The offending parody account posted another tweet apologising Anjali Birla.

“As directed by @MahaCyber1, I have deleted all my posts and comments on Anjali Birla. I would like to apologise as I was unaware of the facts and copied someone else’s tweets and shared them,” the post read.