Fact Check: Did IIT Manipur student hack Google?

Hyderabad: A post is being shared widely on social media with a claim that Ritu Raj Choudhary, a second-year student of IIT Manipur, has hacked Google for 52 seconds.

It is being claimed that Google appreciated his capabilities by offering him a job with a package of Rs 3.66 crore.

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बिहार के लड़के ऋतुराज चौधरी ने परसों रात को 1:05:09 पर गुगल को हिला दिया। इसने 51 सेंकड तक गुगल को ही हैक कर दिया। हैक होते ही पूरी दुनियां में बेठे गुगल के अधिकारियों के हाथ पांव फूल गये अमेरीका के आफिस में अफरा तफरी मच गई वो कुछ समझ पाते इतने 51 सेकंड में ऋतुराज ने पुनः गुगल pic.twitter.com/tfjQ80bOO5

— मुंगेरीलाल (@mungeri89_lal) February 4, 2022

Fact Check:

The claim is false.

NewsMeter, with relevant keyword search, we found several news reports. The Times of India said Ritu Raj Choudhary is a second-year student of IIIT Manipur (not 'IIT Manipur') and recently, discovered a potential bug in Google (not hacked Google for 52 seconds as claimed in the post.

His interview with 'Zee' can be watched here. He did not mention anywhere that he hacked Google, he just mentions that he reported a bug to Google. His name can be seen on Google's Bug Hunters list.

When the message went viral, Ritu Raj on his LinkedIn profile said that the viral claim is fake. He further said that he didn't get any package or job offer from Google. He didn't hack anything, it was just a bug. He is in his 2nd year B.Tech.

It can be seen here and here.

Hence, the claim is false. Ritu Raj just reported a bug and Google didn't offer him any job or a package.