Fact Check: Viral video shows PM Modi’s doppelganger playing garba, not PM Modi
The video shows PM Modi’s lookalike Vikas Mahnte playing garba.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 9 Nov 2023 6:18 PM IST
Screengrab of the X post. (Source: X/@algotradingdesk)
Hyderabad: A video showing a bearded person playing garba with a group of women is circulating on social media, with users claiming that it shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi playing garba.
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared the video with the caption, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi dances at a Garba Program. (sic)”
Several X and Facebook users have shared the video claiming the same. Click here, here, and here to view the posts.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the video shows PM Modi’s lookalike Vikas Mahante playing garba.
On performing a reverse image search of the video’s keyframe, we came across a reply to a post on X, which carried screengrabs showing visuals identical to the viral video. The person was responding to a post by another X user who challenged people to prove that the person dancing in the video was not PM Modi.
The screengrabs in the reply looked like media from Instagram stories. They had the username ‘vikas_mahante’ on them.
With this as a cue, we looked for Vikas Mahante’s Instagram account and found a reel posted on November 7, which showed him in the same attire as seen in the viral video. He can also be seen greeting the garba dancers. On close inspection, one can see the same dancers in both videos.
“Chief Guest At London Diwali Mela,” read the post’s caption.
In his Instagram bio, Vikas Mahante describes himself as an actor, businessman and social worker.
Hence, we conclude that the viral video shows Modi’s lookalike Vikas Mahante doing garba, not PM Modi. The claim is false.
