Tue Nov 26 08:59:51 UTC 2024: ## Fake News: Telangana Politician KCR Did Not Fund Biopic, Fact-Check Reveals
**Hyderabad, India** – A viral newspaper clipping claiming that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) paid actor Rocking Rakesh ₹20 crore to produce a flattering biopic has been debunked as fake. The claim circulated online alongside the November 22nd release of the Telugu film *Keshava Chandra Ramavath*, whose title is a clear reference to KCR.
While promotional materials for the film described it as a “fan story dedicated to KCR,” the fabricated newspaper clipping alleged that Rakesh admitted to receiving the substantial sum from KCR at a farmhouse to create the film. The clipping, attributed to a non-existent Telangana newspaper, “Telangana News Today,” quickly spread on social media, with users criticizing KCR for alleged misuse of funds.
NewsMeter, a fact-checking organization, investigated the claim and found the newspaper clipping to be entirely fabricated. The website linked in the clipping does not exist, and the logo of the online publishing platform Readwhere was superimposed onto the fake document. Furthermore, Rocking Rakesh himself denied giving the interview, stating that if the alleged payment were true, the film would have received far greater promotional support. He also pointed out the struggles faced in finding theaters for the film’s release. A search of Rakesh’s social media accounts revealed no mention of such an interview.
NewsMeter concludes that the claim of KCR financing a biopic with ₹20 crore is false and based on a fabricated newspaper clipping. The incident highlights the rapid spread of misinformation online and the importance of verifying information before sharing it.
First Piper 