Fact Check: Viral video showing BJP IT cell secretary Rajesh Biju attacked in front of a party activist’s house is not recent

A 2-minute CCTV visual is viral on social media. In the visual, a man wearing a green t-shirt is beaten by two others who are wearing white shirts. Also, another man is there who silently watches the fight but in the end when suddenly a biker wearing a police uniform arrives at the place, the third man tries to stop those involved in the brawl.

Users shared the video on their account with the claim: “Gruesome attack on BJP IT & Social Media cell district secretary Shri Rajesh Biju today evening in front of a BJP functionary's house. Rajesh is undergoing treatment in Sri Chakra Hospital, Nanganallur, Chennai East. We pray for his speedy recovery.

Fact Check: The claim is False, this not a recent video & it is related to rivalry between two BJP leaders.

First, if you observe the video closely, at the top, a date stamp is visible showing 31.07.2023. It proves this incident happened last year and is not recent.

During Google reverse image search, we found the same video was shared by Sun News on August 1, 2023 with a caption:

“சொந்த கட்சி உறுப்பினரையே தாக்கிய சென்னை கிழக்கு மாவட்ட பாஜக பொதுச்செயலாளர் எஸ்.எஸ்.சுப்பையா மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு!”

When translated, it reads: “A case has been filed against Chennai East District BJP General Secretary S.S. Subbaiah who attacked his own party member”.

In the News, below the video frame, the following is written in Tamil:

BJP executive who attacked his own party member!

In a video, Chennai East District BJP general secretary S. Subbaiah after speaking about the abolition of alcohol in public, is seen drinking inside a restaurant and it had gone viral.

He and his supporters attacked the house of BJP IT Division Secretary Rajesh Biju from the same district for making the video viral. Rajesh is undergoing treatment at Chromepet Government Hospital.

Palavanthangal police filed 2 cases against Subbaiah under 3 categories of defamation, assault and threatening.

On further investigation, we found on August 1, 2023, ETV Tamil Nadu published a news report by sharing the same video with a headline:

“பாஜக பொதுச் செயலாளர் மது அருந்திய வீடியோ விவகாரம்;வெளியிட்ட நபரைத் தாக்கும் சிசிடிவி காட்சிகள்!”

When translated to English: “BJP General Secretary drunk video issue; CCTV footage of attacking the person who released it !”

According to Tamil newspaper Dinakaran: “சொந்த கட்சி உறுப்பினரையே தாக்கிய சென்னை கிழக்கு மாவட்ட பாஜக பொதுச்செயலாளர் மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு!”

When translated, it reads: “A case has been filed against the BJP general secretary of Chennai East district for assaulting his own party member”

Also we found, on April 15, 2024, Greater Chennai police shared an old video graphics by using screen shots of the viral video. In the post, they also mentioned: “The video pertains to a fight that occurred due to personal dispute between two leaders of a political party @ Nanganallur and which happened on 31.07.2023 NOT yesterday. In this regard, a case was registered in the jurisdictional police station and proper legal action was taken. Do not share unverified information.”

Strict legal action will be taken against those spreading wrong and unverified information. 

As per above Investigations & different media reports, we concluded that this is not a recent video & it is related to a dispute between two rival BJP leaders.