Fact Check: Popcorn seller was arrested based on allegation of spitting into the oil but not using urine to add salty flavour

A 45-second video went viral on social media with the TV9 logo on the top right corner. In the video, an old man wearing a purple shirt is seen saying something in Telugu. His gestures suggest he is explaining something. Later, the police are seen with a bottle filled with a yellow liquid. The video ends with a person sitting inside a police van, appearing to be under arrest.

Users shared this on various social media platforms with the claim, “A Muslim vendor was caught selling popcorn made using his urine to add a salty flavor. People have been eating his urinated popcorn for years.”

Fact Check: We found the claim to be misleading. The popcorn seller was arrested by the police on the allegation of spitting into the oil he used to make the popcorn.

During the search, we found TV9 Kannada uploaded the video on the YouTube channel. With the title Lalbagh: ಪಾಪ್ಕಾರ್ನ್ ಮಾರಾಟಗಾರರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಸ್ಥಳೀಯರ ಆರೋಪ.

In English, it means “Locals charge against popcorn sellers”.

The video contains overlaid text indicating that the incident happened at Lalbagh Botanical Garden in Bengaluru. Locals present in the area alleged that the popcorn seller was spitting into the oil bottle before making the popcorn.

When we search with the keyword “Popcorn seller spitting in oil bottle” we found, on June 22, 2022, the News Minute uploaded a story on their YouTube channel with the title “Muslim popcorn seller attacked in Bengaluru speaks”.

In the description, The News Minute also mentioned: “A popcorn seller at Lalbagh Botanical Garden was arrested in Bengaluru on June 11 for allegedly spitting into the oil that was used to make the popcorn. Navaz Pasha, who is out on bail, tells TNM that he was accused of the crime only because of his name”.

Furthermore, we found on June 13, 2022, a story published by The Hindu with the title “Popcorn vendor arrested, released”.

In the article, The Hindu also mentioned: “Tension prevailed for some time near Lalbagh Glass House on Saturday when a group of people protested against a 21-year-old popcorn vendor accusing him of spitting into an oil pan. However, investigations revealed that the accused was tearing open the oil packet with his teeth to pour oil into the pan, and he did not spit into the food. However, passers-by created a ruckus demanding his arrest”.

On June 14, 2022, The Times of India Published an article with the Headline “Bengaluru: Popcorn vendor 'spits' into cooking oil, lands in soup.

According to The New Indian Express “Popcorn vendor caught spitting in oil”

We did not find any articles stating that the seller used urine on the popcorn.

Hence, based on the above investigation and articles published in different media, we found the claim is misleading. The popcorn seller did not use his urine to add a salty flavor; according to the allegation, he was spitting into the oil he used to make the popcorn.