Fact Check: Paper clipping on deduction of Rs 350 from voters’ account in case of not exercising franchise is False
An image looking like a paper clipping is circulating on different social media & several WhatsApp groups
In the paper clipping with a Headline “नहीं दिया वोट तो बैंक अकाउंट से कटेंगे 350 रुपए: आयोग”
It means: “Rs 350 will be deducted from bank accounts if a voter didn’t cast vote, the clipping also mentioned that if a voter didn’t have a bank account it can deduct during the mobile recharge
Fact Check: After careful observation of the newspaper clip we found the claim is False, The viral post is very old & the newspaper clip is actually a fabricated one.
As per Google reverse image search, we found this false notice was shared by PIB fact check too on their social media platform on March 29, 2024, with a caption:
“दावा: लोकसभा चुनाव में जो मतदाता अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग नहीं करेंगे, चुनाव आयोग द्वारा उनके बैंक खातों से Rs 350 काट लिए जाएंगे #PIBFactCheck , यह दावा फर्जी है । @ECISVEEP द्वारा ऐसा कोई निर्णय नहीं लिया गया है । ऐसी भ्रामक खबरों को शेयर न करें।
On translation, it reads “Voters who do not cast their vote in the Lok Sabha elections will have Rs 350 deducted from their bank accounts by the Election Commission. #PIBFactCheck
This claim is fake. No such decision has been taken by @ECISVEEP Do not share such fake news.
When we searched the headline “दावा: लोकसभा चुनाव में जो मतदाता अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग नहीं करेंगे, चुनाव आयोग द्वारा उनके बैंक खातों से Rs350 काट लिए जाएंगे।
On Google, we found the same post with the same paper clip PIB shared on their official X account in the year 2020 & 2021 also.
When we searched the key frames using Google reverse image, we found on November 29, 2021, spokesperson of ECI shared the same paper clip on his official X account.
On Dec. 5, 2021, NDTV also published: “Delhi Police Investigates Rumour of Rs 350 Fine for Not Voting "
On the same day, Hindusthan Times also published: " Delhi Police start probe into rumour of Rs350 fine for not voting "
Hence, we conclude that no such announcement was made by the Election Commission also.
An old & fake paper clip is in circulation on social media to mislead voters by connecting general elections 2024.