Video by makeup artist shared as ‘last moments’ of RG Kar Hospital murder victim

(Trigger warning: This story includes descriptions of rape and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.)

What is the claim?

A short video clip of a woman with visible injuries around her neck and face has gone viral on social media. The claim is that the video shows the last moments of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, who was found dead in a seminar hall on August 9, 2024, after being raped and murdered.

Various users on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube have shared the video with similar claims, calling for justice for the victim. Archived versions of some posts can be accessed here, here, and here. 

Screenshots of social media posts incorrectly identifying a video of a makeup artist as the ‘last moments’ of the RG Kar Hospital murder victim. (Source: Screenshots/YouTube/X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, our investigation reveals that the video actually features a makeup artist, not the RG Kar Hospital victim, as claimed.

What did we find?

A reverse image search using keyframes from the viral video led us to Facebook posts that credited the clip to an account named ‘Zeenat Rahman’ (archived here).

Rahman's Facebook account lists them as an ‘ARTIST’ in the bio but is locked to the public; the linked Instagram account is also inactive.

A keyword search on Facebook, however, revealed publicly available posts identifying Rahman as a makeup artist. One post (archived here) included photos of a woman resembling the one in the viral video, holding a sign that read ‘Zeenat’. The caption indicated that Rahman had created the makeup look.

Further searching in Facebook groups related to makeup artists led us to the ‘Makeup Artists’ group (archived here) with about two million members. Rahman has been a member of this group since March 11, 2020.

We found multiple photos (archived here and here) of Rahman showcasing Bollywood-inspired makeup looks and Halloween-themed creations (archived here) involving wounds.

Additionally, we found Rahman had posted another photo (archived here) on October 1, 2020, featuring makeup that simulated bruises as part of an effort to raise awareness about sexual violence.

Visual comparison

A visual comparison of the woman in the viral video with images of Rahman from the Facebook group further indicates that they are the same person.

Comparison between screenshots of the viral video and images of Rahman posted in the Facebook group. (Source: Screenshots/X/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

Logically Facts contacted Atoofa Khushnood, the founder of Busiqueens, a Kolkata-based women’s empowerment group. Khushnood, a friend of Rahman’s, had uploaded a post on Facebook showing Rahman holding a sign with her name. She confirmed that the viral video depicts Rahman, a makeup artist, and not the RG Kar Hospital murder victim.

“Zeenat created the video to re-enact and highlight the suffering endured by the [RG Kar Hospital victim] as a call for justice. Her intent was solely to pay tribute and raise awareness. She posted the video on her personal profile with no intent to mislead anyone. Unfortunately, some social media pages downloaded the video and shared it with misleading captions, which caused confusion,” Khushnood explained.

Logically Facts has also contacted Rahman for comment on the viral video. This fact-check will be updated upon receiving a response.

Furthermore, no credible reports have surfaced mentioning a video that aligns with the claim in question.

RG Kar Hospital murder case

The victim was reportedly found deceased in a semi-clothed state, with "abrasions on the cheeks, lips, nose, neck, arms, and knees, as well as injuries to sensitive areas," according to the post-mortem findings.

Amid nationwide protests, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has scheduled the next hearing for August 22. At that time, the CBI and the West Bengal government are expected to submit their respective reports.

Following a high court directive, the CBI has assumed responsibility for the case from Kolkata Police and has reportedly obtained permission to conduct a polygraph test on the accused, Sanjoy Roy, according to sources.

The victim's parents have expressed their concerns over efforts to stifle protests and have criticized the handling of the case by the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government.

Meanwhile, healthcare services across the country have been affected as doctors continue their strike for the tenth consecutive day.

The verdict

The viral video actually features a makeup artist and does not depict the 'last moments' of the RG Kar Hospital murder victim, as claimed.