Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based YouTuber, was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s ISI. Authorities claim she leaked sensitive information via social media, exploiting her travel vlogs and online presence.
In the above context, an image is being widely shared on social media in which Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, is seen standing with a woman with party manifestos in their hands.
The image is shared with a caption suggesting that Akhilesh was seen posing for a photograph with Jyoti.
A social media user shared the image with a caption that reads, “What is this traitor Jyoti, the spy, doing with the Samajwadi Party supremo at the rally, friends? We don’t just call these SP Yadmullas for no reason.” (Translated from Hindi)
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The woman in the image is Dimple Yadav, Akhilesh’s wife and MP from Mainpuri, UP.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same image was published by News Nation on January 23, 2017. The report associated with the image stated that Akhilesh Yadav shared a photo with his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and wife, Dimple, on Facebook, suggesting reconciliation after their political feud, despite Mulayam’s absence at the SP manifesto launch.
The image was also shared by Business Standard on January 23, 2017, with a caption that read, “Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and newly appointed party president Akhilesh Yadav unveils party manifesto ahead of Assembly election, in Lucknow.”
The image was also shared by The Times of India on January 23, 2017. The image was shared as a part of the story suggesting that it was of Akhilesh Yadav launching the manifesto of Samajwadi Party ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections which were to be held between February 11 to March 8, 2017.
A video shared by ABP News on January 22, 2017, shows Akhilesh Yadav releasing the manifesto of his party. At the 35:39 timestamp, one can see his wife entering the frame.
Moreover, a report by India Today, published on January 23, 2017, showed a picture in which Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav and senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan were handing the party’s manifesto to Mulayam Singh Yadav. The image is of the same day when the manifesto was released, and one can see Dimple wearing the same saree in this image as in the viral image.
Therefore, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.
