Influencer Deepika Vedpathak Misidentified as IAS Officer Celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti

An image of a girl celebrating the birth anniversary (Jayanti) of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar is going viral on social media. It has been claimed that the girl seen in the image is an IAS officer (District Collector) who attributed her success in the civil service to Dr. Ambedkar.

Fact Crescendo received the image on our WhatsApp Tipline (9049053770) with fact-check requests.

We found that the image is being circulated with a misleading claim. The girl in the photograph is actually Deepika Vedpathak, a well-known social media influencer known for her viral food videos. 

WHAT’S THE CLAIM?

The image that has gained widespread attention on social media shows a young girl draped in a blue ‘Jay Bhim’ scarf, sitting at a table adorned with an array of dishes. A small flag bearing the image of Dr. Ambedkar is also prominently displayed on the table.

This text along with this image reads: “बाबा साहेब नहीं होते तो आज मैं कलेक्टर नहीं बन पाती। वो थे, इसलिए आज हम हैं।” (I would not have been collector without Babasaheb [Ambedkar]. We are here all because of him.)

The post has garnered more than 44 thousand likes on Facebook. While some have praised the girl in the image, others have resorted to using casteist slurs and trolling. 

Original Post – Facebook | Facebook

FACT-CHECK

Upon conducting a reverse image search, we found that the viral image originated from a video uploaded by an Instagram account named Prasika, which is managed by a Mumbai-based couple Prasad and Deepika Vedpathak.

The Instagram handle features a diverse range of content, including food videos. The particular video was created in honor of Dr. Ambedkar on 14 April, commemorating his birth anniversary.

Who is Deepika Vedpathak?

Deepika Vedpathak is a popular social media influencer who, alongside her husband Prasad, manages multiple social media accounts and collaborates with various brands. 

The Maharashtrian couple began their online journey in 2014 through their YouTube channel UrIndianConsumer, also known as UIC. 

Their UICVlogs channel offers relatable family content, making them one of the first Indian families to share their personal life details in the form of vlogs.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Deepika and Prasad ventured into sharing homely videos on TikTok, which quickly garnered them a substantial following. Their videos primarily feature various themed dishes.

Is Deepika Vedpathak a district collector?

No, she is not a district collector or an IAS officer.

She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Application (MCA) and has a background of working at the Mantralaya in the Digital India team, as per various media interviews. 

However, as her online career flourished, she made the decision to leave her job in 2016 and focus solely on her entrepreneurial journey. 

Recently, she presented the an award at an IPL match. 

CONCLUSION

Thus, the viral image of a girl celebrating Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti is not an IAS officer. Our investigation revealed that she is Deepika Vedpathak, a popular social media influencer known for her food videos.

(If you come across any news, videos, or images that seem too good (or bad) to be true, don’t hesitate to send them our way. Our team of fact-checkers will look into it and then share our findings with you. Together, we can fight the spread of fake news and misinformation. Our WhatsApp number is 9049053770. To stay updated, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.)