Kanhaiya Kumar, born on January 13, 1987, in Begusarai, Bihar, is an Indian politician, former student leader, and member of the Indian National Congress (INC). He first gained national prominence in 2016 as the President of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) when he was arrested on charges of sedition following a protest event on campus. The arrest led to widespread protests, sparking debates on free speech, nationalism, and student activism across India.

Kumar, a vocal advocate for social justice, secularism, and democratic rights, has focused on issues such as unemployment, education reform, and economic inequality. After completing his Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Kumar contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as a candidate from the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Begusarai, Bihar, but lost to Giriraj Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2021, he joined the Indian National Congress, aiming to strengthen the party’s presence and outreach among young voters.

In February 2019, BOOM fact-checked a viral photo claiming to show Kumar standing in front of a map that depicted Kashmir as part of Pakistan.

BOOM found out that the photo was doctored, with no evidence supporting the claim, debunking the misleading narrative about Kumar.