Recently, a video of officials counting heaps of cash using cash counting machines went viral on social media. Sharing the video users claimed that it shows a raid in the godown of Rithish Akash, a friend of the deputy CM of Tamil Nadu Udhayanidhi Stalin.
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However, upon investigation, we discovered that the claim was false. The video is old and unrelated to Udhayanidhi Stalin. Here’s the fact check.
Fact Check
At the beginning of our investigation, we noticed that the language spoken in the video is Bengali. From this, we suspected that the video could be related to Bengal.
Taking this clue, we conducted a relevant keyword search. This led us to a report on the official YouTube channel of India Today on September 10, 2022.
In this report, we can see the viral video. According to the report, ED recovered Rs 17 Cr cash after raids against the Kolkata-based mobile gaming app operator scam. The description read, “The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at six locations in Kolkata while probing an alleged case of fraud through a mobile gaming app.
A team of ED officials, accompanied by bank officials, raided the premises of businessman Aamir Khan in the Garden Reach area of
Kolkata on Saturday and seized Rs 7 crore in cash and property documents.
The raid is underway and cash counting machines were brought in to ascertain the exact amount of cash recovered.”
We found another similar report on the YouTube channel of NDTV on September 10, 2022. The description of the video read, “A search operation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has led to the recovery of at least Rs 17 crore from the premises of a businessman in Kolkata. The anti-money laundering agency has raided six locations in Kolkata including one in Garden Reach area, where the ED has brought in cash-counting machines to count the amount recovered.”
A report published in the Times of India can be read here.
This makes it clear that the viral video is old and unrelated to Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Conclusion
From our investigation, we can say that the claim is false. The viral video doesn’t show a recent raid on the godown of Rithish Akash, a friend of the deputy CM of Tamil Nadu Udhayanidhi Stalin. This is an old video of an ED raid at a Kolkata-firm.
Title: Old Video Of Raid At A Kolkata-Based Firm Going Viral Linking To Udhayanidhi Stalin.
Written By: Debanjana baishya
Result: False
