Fact Check: Did KCR give Nikhat Zareen a cash award of Rs. 50L? Here's the truth

Hyderabad: A photo of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao along with boxer Nikhat Zareen holding a cheque is being shared on social media. Netizens claim that the CM awarded Rs. 50 lakh to Zareen after she won the gold medal at the 2022 Women's World Boxing Championship on 19 May 2022.

The photo is being shared with the caption, "Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao gave Rs. 50 lakh Nikhat Zareen who brought glory to India by winning the gold medal in boxing." (translated)

FACT CHECK

NewsMeter searched for reports about KCR giving Zareen Rs. 50 lakhs to celebrate her recent win but did not find any reports that supported the claim.

A press release was issued by the CM's office congratulating Zareen on her win. However, it did not mention a cash award. Media outlets that reported the press release did not mention any cash reward either.

We found that the viral picture was taken in 2014 when the CM had felicitated 10 athletes and presented them with cash awards worth Rs. 6.11 crores during the Independence Day function held at the Golconda fort.

A report by Deccan Chronicle, dated 16 August 2014, had carried the same photo. It reported that the CM had felicitated many sportspersons like Saina Nehwal, Gagan Narang, Parupalli Kashyap, P.V. Sindhu, RMV Gurusaidutt, Jwala Gutta, and Zareen.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi also shared the photo on 16 August 2014.

Evidently, a 2014 photo is being falsely shared with the claim that KCR awarded Rs. 50 lakhs to boxer Nikhat Zareen after she won the gold medal at the 2022 Women's World Boxing Championship.