A photograph of Congress leader and Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi taken during a court appearance in Lucknow has been widely circulated on social media with a false and misleading claim. The photograph, showing a man taking a selfie with Mr. Gandhi inside court premises, was shared with the assertion that the individual was a judge. An investigation by the Law Trend team has found this claim to be entirely false; the person in the photograph is a practicing advocate, not a member of the judiciary.
Background of the Case
The incident occurred on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Special MP-MLA Court in Lucknow. Mr. Rahul Gandhi appeared before the court in connection with a defamation case filed in 2018. The complaint was lodged by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Vijay Mishra, over alleged objectionable remarks made by Mr. Gandhi against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During the proceedings, the court granted bail to Mr. Gandhi. While he was on the court premises, several individuals, including lawyers, took photographs with him.
The Viral Claim and Disinformation Campaign
One specific selfie became the centerpiece of a coordinated disinformation campaign online. Multiple social media accounts, often associated with political IT cells, propagated the image with captions claiming that the judge presiding over the case was seen taking a selfie with Mr. Gandhi. The narrative was constructed to suggest a lack of judicial impartiality and imply that the judiciary was favorably disposed towards the Congress leader. This false narrative was amplified by PR agencies and social media influencers, creating widespread confusion among the public.
Factual Verification
The Law Trend team’s investigation into the viral claim has confirmed the factual inaccuracy of the posts. The person seen taking the selfie with Mr. Gandhi holds no judicial position.
- Identity of the Individual: The man in the photograph has been identified as Advocate Syed Mahmood Hasan. He is a resident of Barabanki district and has been a practicing lawyer at the Lucknow District Court since 2006.
- Advocate’s Clarification: Speaking to media outlets, Advocate Hasan himself refuted the viral claims. “I had gone to meet Rahul Gandhi, but I am not a judge. I am just a lawyer,” he stated. He further clarified that he admires Mr. Gandhi as a leader and, like several other advocates present, took the opportunity to take a selfie.
Decision and Proceedings
The actual judicial proceedings were conducted by Special Judge H.R. Yadav, who heard the matter and granted bail to Mr. Gandhi in the 2018 defamation case. The spread of the viral photograph had no bearing on the legal outcome of the case, which proceeded according to established judicial protocol.
