Hyderabad: An image of Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav is widely being shared on social media.
Users claimed that that the health of Lalu Yadav, who was driving a jeep till a few days ago, deteriorated just before the court appearance. Users said this picture is from just before he was admitted to the hospital.
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Fact Check
The claim is misleading.
NewsMeter began the investigation by performing a Google Reverse Image Search which led us to a report published by DNA on August 25, 2018. According to the report, "RJD president Lalu Prasad today returned to Patna from Mumbai, where he was treated at a hospital for three weeks and would surrender before the CBI court at Ranchi as per the Jharkhand High Court order."
The report had published the same image.
The team then found a tweet by Rashtriya Janata Dal on August 25, 2018. The Twitter handle shared a video that had similar visuals to that of the viral picture.
The viral image was also published by Dainik Jagran on August 26, 2018.
"RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who returned to Patna on Saturday after being discharged from the Asian Heart Institute in Mumbai, stayed away from the media for the second day. After reaching Patna on Saturday, he refused to speak to the media. As soon as wheel-chair-bound Lalu came out of the airport, journalists raised questions about the Muzaffarpur incident. On this, he said that I am not allowed to speak. I won't say anything. I am also not well," reads Dainik Jagran report.
Meanwhile, according to a report by The Hindu on November 23, 2021, "Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on November 23 appeared before a special CBI court here in connection with a case related to unlawful withdrawal of money from the treasury in 1996."
It is therefore evident that the claim is misleading. The viral image is of 2018 which is being linked to the court appearance of Lalu Yadav.