Fact Check: Christian cross in TTD chief BR Naidu’s office? Photo is edited
The original image does not display a cross over the trophy in Naidu's office.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 1 Nov 2024 8:27 AM GMT
Claim: An image from the office of the newly appointed TTD chairman BR Naidu’s office shows a cross on a trophy leading to speculation that he follows Christianity.
Fact: The viral image is edited. The original image and several other images of Naidu’s office do not show a cross on the trophy.
Hyderabad: BR Naidu, founder of Telugu channel TV5, has been appointed as the chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, responsible for managing the affairs of the revered Tirumala temple. His appointment comes at a time of controversy involving alleged misuse of ingredients in the temple’s prasadam, specifically claims of adulteration in the laddus offered as prasadam.
Against this backdrop, an image showing a cross on a trophy in BR Naidu’s office has been circulating on social media. This image has drawn criticism, with some alleging that Naidu may follow Christianity, thus questioning his suitability for a leadership role in a Hindu religious institution.
A Facebook user shared the image and wrote, “How can BR Naidu, who follows Christianity, be given this role? Is this what my Sanatana Hindu Dharma is?” (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false as the image is edited. The original image does not display a cross over the trophy.
We ran a keyword search and found another image of a man posing with BR Naidu congratulating him on his appointment as TTD chairman, posted on Instagram on October 30. This image showed the same trophy in Naidu’s office but without a cross. (Archive)
We also found another image featuring a woman posing with BR Naidu in his office. She is also congratulating him on his appointment as TTD chairman. The same trophy appears in the image, but it does not display a cross. (Archive)
Upon conducting a reverse image search, we found the uncropped version of the viral image posted by an X user on October 30. This image also does not depict a cross on the trophy. (Archive)
We also obtained an image of the trophy and another photograph showing a man posing with Naidu and holding a bouquet in his office, from sources in the TDP. In both images, the trophy is visible, and neither displays a cross.
Hence, we conclude that the viral image of the trophy with a cross on it in BR Naidu’s office is edited.
