Fact Check: Old incident of frustrated cop tearing off his uniform propagated as recent happening

Specific CCTV footage has gone viral on social media, showing a group of people engaged in a discussion, with several police officers present. In the middle of the argument, one of the officers suddenly removes his uniform.

The video was shared on Official X account of Madhya Pradesh Congress with the Hindi caption "यह सत्ता की हनक है...भाजपा के पार्षद की धमक देखिए...एक वर्दीधारी को अपनी वर्दी फाड़ना पड़ गई !! प्रदेश में पुलिसिंग का स्तर जीरो हो गया है! अपराध अनियंत्रित हैं, अपराधी बेखौफ और पुलिस कहीं लाचार तो कहीं दबाव में है I यह वायरल वीडियो सिंगरौली के बैढन थाने का बताया जा रहा है, जहां BJP पार्षद के दबाव से एक पुलिसकर्मी इतने परेशान हो गए कि अपनी वर्दी तक फाड़ ली! यानि मुख्यमंत्री मोहन यादव के प्रभाव में गृह विभाग की दशा और दिशा दोनों बिगड़ चुकी है! जनता को न्याय कैसे मिलेगा, जब पुलिस को ही अपनी वर्दी फाड़नी पड़ रही है" !"

In English, it reads: “This is the power of the government... Look at the threat posed by the BJP councillor – a uniformed officer was forced to tear off his uniform! Policing in the state has hit rock bottom. Crimes are rampant, criminals are fearless, and the police are either helpless in some areas or under pressure in others. This viral video is reportedly from the Baidhan police station in Singrauli, where a policeman, driven to frustration by the pressure from a BJP councillor, tore his uniform! Under the influence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, both the condition and direction of the Home Department have deteriorated. How can the public expect justice when the police themselves are compelled to tear off their uniforms ”.

The same video was also uploaded by Punjab Kesari YouTube Channel on Sept. 16, 2024.

The video was uploaded with the title "BJP नेता ने ASI को दी वर्दी उतरवाने की धमकी, तो पुलिस अफसर ने खुद ही फाड़ डाली अपनी ड्रेस".

In English, it reads: "When a BJP leader threatened to remove the ASI's uniform, the police officer himself tore his uniform".

Another X user shared with the viral video the caption ‘Wardi Utarwa Denge’: BJP MLA Threatens ASI, Frustrated Police Officer Tears His Uniform.

Fact Check:

We found the claim is Misleading. The incident happened on February 2, 2024, in Kotwali police station of Singrauli district, MP.

Upon closely observing the video, a date stamp can be seen in the right corner, showing "02/02/2024."

We came across a press release, along with a video statement, shared on the official social media accounts of the Superintendent of Police, District Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh.

The press note was released on September 15, 2024 with the information: "The viral video is about 8-9 month old From Kotwali Police Station in which a policeman is taking off his uniform. Superintendent of Police Mrs. Nivedita Gupta immediately took cognizance of the matter and got it investigated by a gazetted officer. In the investigation, it was found there was a land dispute between the policeman and the councillor's husband. There was an altercation between the policeman and the Councillor's husband regarding this matter. Meanwhile, the policeman started taking off his uniform. The policeman was given a major punishment as his act was found to be a gross indiscipline”.

In the video, SP Singrauli Mrs. Nivedita Gupta mentioned: “The video is nearly eight months old." She condemned the actions of the ASI who removed his police uniform and has taken legal action against him in accordance with the law.

When we searched for the keyword, we found ABP Live published an article relating to it.In the article, ABP mentioned: "A seventh-month-old video of a police officer tearing off his uniform after a confrontation with a BJP corporator’s husband is going viral on social media".

According to The Free Press Journal “MP: ‘Wardi Utarwa Denge..’, Angry Singrauli ASI Tears Uniform In Response To BJP Leader’s Alleged Threat; CCTV Footage Goes Viral After 7 Months”.

Indian Express also shared the same video on their Instagram account, with the caption “7 months ago in Singrauli, , Madhya Pradesh, ASI Vinod Mishra tore his uniform after BJP leader Arjun Gupta allegedly threatened to strip him of his uniform at Kotwali police station. The CCTV footage of the incident recently surfaced, prompting an investigation. The argument was reportedly over drain construction”.

A seven-month-old dramatic video of Kotwali police station of Singrauli district went viral on social media. In the video, an ASI is seen putting off his uniform after a BJP leader threatened him to get him removed from his post, by India Tv.

Hence, we found the claim to be Misleading. The incident occurred on February 2 at Kotwali police station in Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh.