Fact Check: Know the truth of this picture being viral in the name of Godhra train fire convict Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk.

New Delhi: Recently a film ‘The Sabarmati Report’ came out. After the release of this film, a post regarding the Godhra train fire is going viral on social media. While sharing this post, it is being claimed that the person seen in it is Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, who was absconding for 14 years after the Godhra train burning incident. he/she has finally been arrested. It is being claimed that petrol was arranged from the same petrol pump to set the train on fire in Godhra. However, this claim was found to be false in fact check.

As per Vishvas News investigation, the picture seen in the viral post is not of any accused in Godhra riots, but of RC Kodekar. he/she was a Special Public Prosecutor. his/her picture was tweeted by news agency ANI as Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk. However, later he/she corrected his/her mistake and issued a clarification and said that this photo is of Special Public Prosecutor RC Kodekar. Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, the main accused in setting fire to the train in Godhra, has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

What is viral?

Many users have also shared this screenshot on Vishvas News’ tipline number +91 9599299372. While sharing the picture, he/she wrote, ‘*This is Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk. he/she was a leader in Godhra. There were two petrol pumps and it was they who arranged petrol to burn the Sabarmati train. he/she remained absconding for 14 years. Gujarat IB was keeping an eye on his/her relatives and his/her family members. Everyone’s phones were on surveillance and one day he/she called his/her son because it was his/her grandson. In the surveillance, he/she told the location Delhi, then he/she told his/her son that I am secretly coming to Godhra on a particular date. I want to see my grandson’s face. Then the police thought that instead of arresting him/her in Delhi, it is better to let him/her come to Godhra and he/she came to Godhra. Plain clothes police were deployed at the station and he/she was arrested. Yesterday his/her entire misdeed was proved in the court and he/she was sentenced to life imprisonment. Remember when Lalu Yadav used to say that the fire in Sabarmati Express in Godhra happened just like that, no one started the fire. After confessing everything, he/she told the police that he/she lived in Lajpat Rai Market of Old Delhi for 14 years. Did any journalist show such a big and important news? Imagine what a big eco system these religious terrorists have.

Many other users on different social media platforms have shared this picture in the same and similar context.

investigation

On doing reverse image search of the picture seen in the viral video, we found this picture in a report of Bhaskar.com, which was published two years ago. The use of this picture in the report is related to the life imprisonment of Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, accused of setting fire to the Godhra train compartment.

During search, we found this picture posted on the official X handle of news agency ANI, which has been released on July 2, 2022. The information given with the picture states, ‘Criminal Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, accused in Godhra train coach fire, who was absconding from 19 yrs & was arrested last yr by Godhra police has been given the punishment of life imprisonment under conspiracy to murder. by Godhra sessions court:RC Kodekar, Special Public Prosecutor’

(‘Godhra train fire accused Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, absconding for 19 years, arrested by the Godhra police last year, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Godhra Sessions Court under conspiracy to murder: RC Kodekar, Special Public Prosecutor’)

ANI issued a clarification with the same picture on February 16, 2024, saying, ‘The person seen in the earlier tweet is Special Public Prosecutor RC Kodekar, and not criminal Rafiq Bhatuk.’

What is the truth of the viral picture?

Kodekar has also been mentioned in the same context in other reports. of ‘Times of India’ Report According to , RC Kodekar was the prosecution lawyer in other 2022 riot cases including the Godhra train carnage, Gulbarga society case and the murder of a British citizen and he/she also filed a case under the IT Act for sharing his/her photo out of context. Had it done.

Jagran.com’s report dated 16 February 2021 mentions Bhatuk’s arrest. Report According to, ‘After 19 years, success has been achieved in arresting Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, one of the main accused in the case of setting fire to the bogie of Sabarmati Express at Godhra station in Gujarat. he/she has been arrested from Godhra town. Bhatuk was part of the group which hatched the entire conspiracy to burn the bogie on February 27, 2002. 59 kar sevaks were killed in this.

According to the report, ‘After escaping from Godhra, he/she spent most of his/her time in Delhi, where he/she worked at railway stations and several construction sites. he/she also used to sell goods from door to door. he/she had also shifted his/her family from their old house in Sultan Falia area of ​​Godhra. SP Patil said that three accused in this case, Salim Ibrahim alias Salim Panwala, Shaukat Charkha and Abdul Majeed Yusuf are still absconding. It is believed that all three have fled to Pakistan.

of ‘Hindustan Times’ Report Bhatuk’s picture is there and according to the report, ‘he/she conspired and instigated the mob. he/she also arranged petrol to set the train bogies on fire.

We contacted his/her younger brother Rasik Kodekar (advocate) regarding the viral picture. he/she confirmed, ‘The picture is of RC Kodekar.’

conclusion

Vishvas News According to the investigation, the picture going viral in the name of Rafiq Hussain Bhatuk, accused of setting fire to the train in Godhra, is actually of RC Kodekar. he/she was the prosecution counsel in other 2022 riot cases including the Godhra train incident, Gulbarga Society case and the murder of a British citizen.

(This story was originally published Vishvas NewsAnd republished by NBT as part of Shakti Collective.)