Viral fake photo turns MP teen into overnight hero as officials goof up

JABALPUR: A morphed photograph tricked the administration in Dindori into feting a 19-year-old as a hero for being part of India's junior kabaddi world cup winning team in Iran.
The embarrassing faux pas was revealed when a former kabaddi player wasn't convinced by the story, checked videos of the tournament and the viral photograph, and filed a complaint with the collector and SP.Police have now opened an investigation.
The youngster at the heart of the controversy, Sachin Kushram, has apparently gone back to Kerala where he is studying. His father alleges that Sachin is being framed and someone else morphed the photo and posted it on social media. "I'm shocked that no one checked with the sports directorate and Kabaddi Association before organizing a celebratory welcome for the boy," said Abhinav Katare, who has filed the complaint. And all it took was one viral fake photo.
Katare says Sachin's face was superimposed on that of Yogesh Dahiya, a kabaddi player from Haryana, who was a member of the team.
'Watched all matches, but couldn't find 'pride of Dindori' anywhere'
The kabaddi tournament was held between February 26 and March 5, 2023, in Urmia, Iran. India beat reigning champions Iran in the final 41-33, finishing the tournament unbeaten.
Some days ago, the morphed photo popped up on social media and quickly went viral in Dindori. People began calling him the 'pride of Dindori'. Collector Vikas Mishra also tweeted the photo. And when Sachin returned home from Kerala on April 11, there was a gala welcome party and a large crowd awaiting him.
Officials took him to the office of local sports and youth welfare, where he was felicitated, after which local MLA Omkar Markam drove him home.
Katare, who has represented the district in kabaddi earlier, smelt something fishy. "TV channels were calling him a member of the world cup-winning Indian junior kabaddi team. I was not convinced with the way he was telling his story, so I watched all the matches and couldn't see this boy anywhere," said Katare, a lawyer.
Dindori SP Sanjeev Sinha said, "A complaint has been received and investigations are on. Appropriate legal action will be taken". Collector Mishra said, "I have asked his father to present documents of his claim. He has been asked to meet me next Monday with all the necessary documents as per his claims."
Sachin's father, Manoj Kushram, a government schoolteacher, says it's a conspiracy and the youngster is being framed. He demands a probe. Secretary of Madhya Pradesh Amateur Kabaddi Association, ML Chouhan, told TOI that no one from MP had played in the Iran world cup. Secretary of Dindori District Kabaddi Association, Chetram Ahirwar said Sachin hadn't played in the tournament.