No, this video does not show BJP leader 'assaulting a bank manager'

What is the claim?

A viral video on social media purportedly shows a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader assaulting a public sector bank manager. The 17-second video, shared on X (formerly Twitter), was captioned: “A BJP leader has the audacity to slap a Public Sector Bank Manager. The arrogant BJP should soon be taught a lesson (sic).” 

At the time of writing, the post had been shared 1,600 times and received around 3,400 likes. Similar claims can be found here and here.
 

Screenshot of the viral video on X (Source: X/ Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the video actually depicts Mayur Borde, the youth wing president of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, not a BJP leader.

What we found 

A reverse image search of keyframes from the video led us to an article from August 13, 2024, by TV9 Marathi (archived here). The article confirms that the incident took place at the Bank of Maharashtra's Warud branch in Maharashtra's Jalna district.

According to the report, Borde, a leader of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, slapped the bank manager over the bank's alleged harassment of farmers. The article includes video footage that matches the viral video.

Matching visuals from the viral video and the TV9 Marathi report. (Source: X/ TV9 Marathi).

The Swabhimani Shetkar Sangathan is a farmer’s union based in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. 

An August 14, 2024, article by the Indian Express, which also features the same video, reports that Borde had received complaints from farmers about the bank manager’s uncooperative behavior concerning services such as crop loans and subsidies.

Additionally, the report mentions that the bank manager, Dhirendra Sonkar, filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Borde at the Jaffrabad police station.

A Times of India report published on August 14, 2024, confirms that the man in the video is indeed Borde, the youth wing president of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana.

Jaffarabad Station In-Charge, P.V. Ingle, confirmed to Logically Facts that the accused is indeed Borde and verified the veracity of the news reports. He also said that the investigation into the matter is underway. 

The verdict 

The viral video shows Mayur Borde, the youth wing president of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, slapping a bank manager. He is not affiliated with the BJP.