Fact Check: Video claiming Congress MLA threatening a cop is not from Karnataka but Telangana

A video claiming that a Congress MLA was threatening a policeman in Karnataka is viral on social media following the party's victory in the Assembly elections.

A Twitter user shared the video with the caption, “This is a scene from Karnataka. Police officer was called to his residence by a Muslim league MLA and he asked him to follow their instructions or else they will do it their way.”

Another Twitter user wrote, “The game has already begun in #KarnatakaCM. #Karnataka Congress MLA "Zafar Hussain Meraj.”

FACT CHECK:

A text at the bottom of the video reads: "Jafar Hussain Meraj Sb (MLA, Nampally) In Jagtial." It also carries the symbol of AIMIM.

Upon searching for Jafar Hussain Meraj from Nampally, (an area in Hyderabad), it was found that Meraj is a Member of Telangana Legislative Assembly from Nampally Assembly Constituency and he was the Deputy Mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation from 2009 to 2012.

Upon searching further, we also found a Facebook post on the official handle of AIMIM.

The video was uploaded on May 11, 2023 and the text at the bottom of the video reads, "AIMIM MLA and AIMIM team in Jagtiyal (sic)". (Jagtial is a city in Telangana) In the video, Meraj can be seen asking the policeman if the SP can meet with him. He can be heard saying that he will wait to discuss a particular case with the SP.

The case that Meraj wished to discuss with the SP is regarding an attack on a student following a tiff with a woman, both travelling in an RTC bus earlier this month.

According to Deccan Chronicle and Telangana Today, Jagtial Rural sub-inspector (SI) Anil was suspended on the charges of attacking a student. Anil’s wife had an argument with a student over sharing of a seat in a TSRTC bus. The SI’s wife informed him about the incident and when the bus reached Jagtial, the SI boarded the bus and questioned Farha, the student with whom his wife had a tiff.

As Farha was recording the incident over her phone, Anil snatched it from her and allegedly slapped her. Farha then lodged a complaint and the SP also ordered for an inquiry into the incident. Based on the report, the SI was suspended.

Following the instructions of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Jafar Hussain Meraj visited the house of the student involved in the incident. Later, Meraj and several party leaders, along with the victim, went to the SP's office but failed to get an appointment.

The viral video shows this moment of Meraj waiting to meet the SP to discuss the case.

Later, a case was registered against the SI, his wife, and another constable.

With this, it is clear that the video is being shared with a false claim that a Congress leader was threatening a police officer in Karnataka.

Thus, the claim is false.