Video from Maharashtra shared as 'celebrations in Ayodhya' after BJP's Lok Sabha poll loss

(Disclaimer: We have refrained from adding any active links to the video due to the inappropriate nature of the content.)

What's the claim?

A video depicting a group of men making indecent gestures and engaging in other inappropriate behavior has circulated on social media. The video claims to depict scenes from Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, and suggests that these men were celebrating the BJP's electoral loss in Ayodhya.

The results of the 2024 Indian general elections were announced on June 4, 2024. The Samajwadi Party (SP) secured a majority in Uttar Pradesh, including the Faizabad constituency, which covers Ayodhya. SP candidate Awadhesh Prasad defeated BJP's two-time MP Lallu Singh.

On X (formerly Twitter), the video was shared with Hindi captions claiming that it captured celebrations following the BJP's defeat in Ayodhya. Some posts tagged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's X accounts, urging action against those seen in the video. Archived versions of such posts can be accessed here, here, here, and here.

Screenshot of X posts. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the viral video does not originate from Uttar Pradesh but from Amravati, Maharashtra.

What did we find?

A reverse image search revealed several users on X attributing the video to Amravati, Maharashtra. Posts claimed it showed events following BJP candidate Navneet Rana's defeat in Amravati during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rana, an actor-turned-politician, lost to Congress leader Balwant Wankhede.

Corroborating with these posts, we analyzed the video and identified a distinctive location marker in the background that read, "Amba Nagari, Rajkamal Chowk."

Geolocation confirmed the video was filmed at Rajkamal Chowk, Amravati, Maharashtra. A comparison with Google Maps street view of MH MSH 6 in Amravati supported this finding.

Comparison of a screenshot from the viral video with the Google Maps street view of MH MSH 6 in Amravati, Maharashtra. (Source: X/Google Maps)

Police action following rally disturbances

After Wankhede's victory over Rana, the Congress party organized a victory rally (archived here) in Amravati. During this event at Rajkamal Chowk, several youths engaged in indecent behavior and shouted objectionable slogans. In response, BJP MLA Praveen Pote met with Police Commissioner Naveen Chandra Reddy to call for prompt action, according to local reports.

Logically Facts contacted Kotwali Police Station, where Senior Police Inspector Manohar Kontake confirmed an FIR had been filed and arrests made regarding the video from Rajkamal Chowk.

An FIR from the Maharashtra Police's portal detailed a video consistent with the one that went viral. It stated the incident occurred near Rajkamal Chowk, Amravati, from 17:30 to 19:15 on June 4. The FIR also recorded multiple disturbances during Wankhede's victory celebration at Rajkamal Chowk on June 5, 2024, involving 20 to 25 people. Consequently, the Amravati Police Commissioner applied Section 37(1)(3) of the Indian Penal Code, recommending legal measures be taken against those involved in misconduct, as per Articles 294, 135, 110, and 117 of the Indian Penal Code.

The verdict

The viral video does not depict events in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, but in Amravati, Maharashtra. It is unrelated to the BJP’s defeat in Ayodhya in the recently concluded general elections in India.