Sumit Usha

Sumit Usha

Sumit is a fact checker and the News Editor of Boom's Hindi wing. In the six years of his journalistic career, he has worked with the New Indian Express, Times of India and Deccan Chronicle. The dynamic nature of digital media finally made him take the leap from print to online, and don the hat of a digital detective.

Scene From Mini-Series Pandemic Peddled As Coronavirus Mass Grave
Fake News

Scene From Mini-Series Pandemic Peddled As Coronavirus Mass Grave

A video showing bodies being dumped into a mass grave is from a 2007 mini-series is not real.

27 March 2020 6:17 AM GMT
Mock Drill Videos Passed Off As Police Detaining Suspected COVID-19 Patients
Fake News

Mock Drill Videos Passed Off As Police Detaining Suspected COVID-19...

BOOM found that the videos show mock drills conducted by the police.

26 March 2020 10:41 AM GMT
Dated Photos Of A Suicide In Spain Falsely Linked To Coronavirus In Italy
Fake News

Dated Photos Of A Suicide In Spain Falsely Linked To Coronavirus In...

BOOM found that the images are old and in no way related to the current outbreak of the COVID-19 disease in Italy.

26 March 2020 6:08 AM GMT
No, This Is Not The Last Message Of Deceased Pakistani Doctor Osama Riaz
Fake News

No, This Is Not The Last Message Of Deceased Pakistani Doctor Osama...

A video of a patient who tested positive for Coronavirus in UK is being falsely linked to a young Pakistani doctor who...

25 March 2020 9:44 AM GMT
TikTok Video On Coronavirus Goes Viral As Doctor
Fake News

TikTok Video On Coronavirus Goes Viral As Doctor's Advice

A viral video suggesting gargling with hot water as a cure to Coronavirus falsely attributed to a doctor from Mumbai

24 March 2020 11:46 AM GMT
Putin Let Loose Lions To Keep Russians Indoors? Bizarre Claim Goes Viral
Fake News

Putin Let Loose Lions To Keep Russians Indoors? Bizarre Claim Goes...

BOOM found that the graphic was created with a prank generator app and that the image of a lion prowling the street is...

22 March 2020 6:58 PM GMT
Video Shows IPS Officer
Fake News

Video Shows IPS Officer's Message Extolling Hindutva? Not Quite

BOOM found that the man in the viral clip is a Bhopal based dental specialist and a television actor.

20 March 2020 10:25 AM GMT
Nirbhaya Rape Case: This Is Not The Photo Of The Juvenile Convict
Fast Check

Nirbhaya Rape Case: This Is Not The Photo Of The Juvenile Convict

The photo shows Vinay Sharma - one of the adult convicts in the case and not the juvenile convict whose identity has...

20 March 2020 7:36 AM GMT
Fake Quote Claims Sachin Tendulkar Asked For Ban On Meat Shops
Fake News

Fake Quote Claims Sachin Tendulkar Asked For Ban On Meat Shops

Viral post falsely claims that Sachin Tendulkar has called for stopping the sale of meat due to Coronavirus outbreak

18 March 2020 12:42 PM GMT
No, Cristiano Ronaldo
Fake News

No, Cristiano Ronaldo's Hotels Will Not Be Turned Into Hospitals For...

Several mainstream news outlets and social media accounts of football clubs fell for the false claim.

16 March 2020 5:42 AM GMT
Dated Videos Shared With False Claim Of
Fake News

Dated Videos Shared With False Claim Of 'Another Shaheen Bagh Averted'

BOOM found that the two videos go back several years and have nothing to do with anti-CAA protests.

13 March 2020 5:53 AM GMT
Video Of A Fruit Seller In Pakistan Spray Painting Grapes Viral As India
Fake News

Video Of A Fruit Seller In Pakistan Spray Painting Grapes Viral As...

The video is being shared with a false claim that a Muslim vendor in Lonavala near Mumbai was caught colouring lychees...

11 March 2020 2:38 PM GMT