Fact Check: This video doesn't show Kohli condemning Kolkata doctor rape case

The brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has ignited widespread protests across the nation, with citizens demanding justice and stronger safety measures for women.

Amidst this outcry, a video of cricketer Virat Kohli condemning violence against women is circulating on social media. The accompanying claim suggests that Kohli has specifically addressed the recent incident at RG Kar Medical College.

In the video, Kohli could be heard saying, “It is disturbing, and it is shocking, and I am ashamed to be a part of that society. I think we need to change our thinking and we need to treat men and women in the same way. Be respectful and treat women with some compassion. Something like this happens and for people to watch it and not do anything about it, I think it's a cowardly act. Those people have no right to call themselves men. I have only one question: If something like this happened, god forbid, to someone in your family, would you stand and watch or would you help?”

An X user shared the video and wrote, “Listen What Virat Kohli Is Telling About Dr Moumita Case And The Society We Live In.” (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false as Kohli has not released any video statement addressing the recent RG Kar Medical College incident. The viral video is from 2017.

A reverse image search of the video’s keyframes revealed that the extended version was originally posted on Virat Kohli’s X handle and Instagram account on January 6, 2017. In the video, Kohli discusses violence against women in Bengaluru.

Taking a cue from this, we conducted a keyword search and found reports by NDTV, Hindustan Times, and Times of India, all published on January 6, 2017. These reports indicate that Kohli expressed deep anguish over the mass molestation incident that occurred on December 31, 2016, New Year’s Eve, in Bengaluru. According to a 2017 India Today report, women were pawed, groped, and abused by revellers on MG Road and Brigade Road during the celebrations.

Finally, we checked whether Kohli had issued any statement regarding the recent incident at RG Kar Medical College. However, we found no posts on his social media accounts or any media reports of the cricketer addressing the incident.

Hence, we conclude that the viral video is old and is being falsely linked to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.