No, Maharashtra Congress MP didn't apologize to women over Vishalgad encroachment drive

What is the claim?

A widely circulated image on social media shows Kolhapur Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Chhatrapati Shahu Shahaji (also known as Shahu Maharaj) holding his ears while standing with a group of women. The claim is that the MP is apologizing to Muslim women over an anti-encroachment drive at Vishalgad Fort that became violent on July 14, 2024.

Several social media users have shared the image, including known sources of misinformation like Rishi Bagree and Mr Sinha. Their captions suggest that Maharaj, a descendant of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was apologizing to the local minority community for the anti-encroachment drive. The archived versions of such posts can be viewed here and here.

Multiple other users have circulated the image with similar claims, and archived links are available here, here, and here. 

Screenshot of viral posts being shared on social media. (Source: X/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts) 

The image is being shared in relation to the 'Chalo Vishalgad' campaign, led by former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati and right-wing groups, which opposes alleged encroachments at Vishalgad Fort. The campaign turned violent on July 14, with supporters vandalizing property and clashing with police. 

The police have arrested 21 suspects and filed a case against Sambhajiraje. In response, Congress MP Shahu Maharaj and Kolhapur Congress leader Satej Patil visited the affected area to assess the damage.

However, the viral image now in question has been shared out of context with a misleading narrative. 

What did we find? 

A reverse image search led us to a YouTube video uploaded by Mumbai Tak on July 16 (archived here). The video, captioned in Marathi, translates to: "Women surround Shahu Chhatrapati, lament the moment he reached Vishalgad's Gajapur and narrated all that happened.” In the video, women are seen discussing the violence from the anti-encroachment rally with Maharaj.

At the 1:36 mark, a woman wearing a red hijab speaks to Maharaj, who responds in Hindi, “Sunayi nahi deraha (I can’t hear you).” Another woman mentions, “Iske ghar me ghus kar iske kaan me se iska nikal liye (They entered her house and took her earrings).” Maharaj then touches his ears and asks, “Kaan se nikala (removed from her ears)?”

A similar video posted by ABP Majha (archived here) captures the same conversation from a different angle. The video confirms that Maharaj was listening to complaints about the violence but was not apologizing.

We compared the viral image with the ABP Majha TV video and confirmed it was from the same visit. The video shows Maharaj listening to a woman's complaint about the violence during the anti-encroachment campaign; he, however, does not apologize.

What happened in Kolhapur?

Sambhajiraje, another descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, organized a rally to protest alleged illegal encroachments on Vishalgad Fort, a site of historical significance in Maratha history. Sambhajiraje has been leading the anti-encroachment movement for a year, targeting structures, including a Muslim shrine, around the fort.

According to reports, these encroachments include houses, shops, and a Muslim shrine built around the fort.

On July 14, protesters gathered at the fort's foothills to demand the removal of nearly 150 structures. Violence erupted before Sambhajiraje arrived, leading to clashes with police and local residents.

Three petitions have been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking a stay on the demolitions.

The verdict

The image of Kolhapur Congress MP Shahu Maharaj holding his ears while addressing a woman’s complaint about jewelry being stolen during the July 14 anti-encroachment drive is being misrepresented. He was not apologizing for the Chalo Vishalgad campaign but was instead responding to a complaint about the violence that occurred.