Fact Check: Old video of drunk driving in front of bus falsely linked to new hit-and-run law

Hyderabad: A video of a person doing stunts on a scooter and disturbing other drivers on the road is circulating on social media. Users sharing the video claim it shows the scooter rider playing mischief with the truckers after the announcement of the new penal in the hit-and-run law.

The claim, along with the video, comes in the backdrop of modified penalties in hit-and-run incidents in the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaced the Indian Penal Code. The law specifies that an accused causing a fatal crash and fleeing the scene without reporting to authorities could face imprisonment for up to 10 years along with a fine.

“#truckdriver Dirty act of the bike driver...Public harassing truck drivers after new law is made, (sic)” wrote a verified Facebook user who shared the video.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the video is from October 2023 and is falsely linked to the new hit-and-run law.

On performing a reverse image search of the video’s keyframe, we found it in a report by Mathrubhumi published on October 27, 2023. It identified the person doing reckless driving as Farhan, a native of Kallai from Kozhikode district of Kerala.

It said that the accused was under the influence of alcohol and was doing the stunt on a scooter before a bus plying through Meenchantha. It also mentioned that the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has decided to suspend Farahan’s license for being involved in drunk driving and scooter stunts.

Kerala Kaumudi reported the incident on the same date. It carried the screengrabs from the viral video and mentioned the same details.

Kerala Motors Vehicle Department posted the video on Facebook on October 29, 2023, and requested people not to drive recklessly.

Hence, we conclude that the viral video is old and is being falsely linked to the new hit-and-run law.