Fact Check: This image shows the Public Prosecutor of 2002 Godhra train burning case, not the accused
NewsMeter found that the image shows RC Kodekar, who served as the prosecutor's counsel in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 7 March 2024 2:21 PM GMT
Screengrab of the viral image. (Source: X/@AmitLeliSlayer)
Fact: The image shows RC Kodekar, who served as the prosecutor's counsel in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.
A photo of a man sitting in a car is making the rounds on social media, with users claiming it shows Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, who is the convict in the 2002 train burning case that happened in Godhra, Gujarat. The users also claim that the Bhatuk was absconding for 14 years before he was arrested.
āThis is Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, he was a leader in Godhra, there were two petrol pumps and he had arranged for petrol to bĆ»rn the Sabarmati train, he remained absconding for 14 years. Finally, he was caught. BTW he is Zubairās close uncle,ā wrote the X user who shared the photo.
Click here to view the archived version of the post.
Facebook users have also shared the image claiming the same. (Click here and here to view the posts.)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the image shows RC Kodekar, who served as the prosecutor's counsel in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.
We ran a keyword search for Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk and came across a report by the Hindustan Times from July 2, 2022, which carried a real image of the Bhatuk. According to the newspaper, Bhatuk was part of the core group of the accused who had hatched the entire conspiracy, incited the mob and even arranged petrol to torch the train compartment.
He was absconding for 19 years and was nabbed by the Gujarat Police from Godhra town on February 14, 2021. It reported public prosecutor RC Kodekar saying Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk was awarded life imprisonment under the conspiracy to murder charge in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.
Next, we performed a reverse image search of the viral photo and found a video of the same man speaking in a report of DNA India on Facebook published on July 3, 2022. It identifies the man as RC Kodekar, a special public prosecutor in the 2002 Godhra Train case. In the video, Kodekar can be heard saying that Bhatuk was awarded life imprisonment under the conspiracy to murder charge by the Godhra sessions court.
We also came across a clarification by the ANI stating that their picture of RC Kodekar, Special Public Prosecutor, was shared on X with incorrect identification as the convict of 2002 Godhra Train case.
Hence, we conclude that the viral image shows RC Kodekar, not Rafiq Hussain Bhatukāone of the convicts in the 2002 Godhra Train burning case. The claim is false.
