Fake News To High Office: Avi Dandiya, Behind Pulwama Disinformation, Made Social Media Chief For Indian Overseas Congress

Controversial 'video blogger' Avi Dandiya has been appointed as the chief in-charge of social media for the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC).

In a post on X, Dandiya thanked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and IOC Chairman Sam Pitroda, among others, and everyone in the Congress and IOC for the appointment.

In March 2019, Delhi Police had registered a case against Dandiya for publishing a fake audio clip about the Pulwama terror attack, claiming that it carried the voice of Home Minister Rajnath Singh and suggesting it was an inside job.

An FIR was filed against Dandiya under Sections 465 and 469 of the IPC after he had published the fake clip claiming it to be a conversation between Rajnath Singh, BJP national president Amit Shah, and an unidentified woman.

The concocted clip, later deleted, featured a discussion of a ‘plot’ concerning the terror attack which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF soldiers on 14 February.

The fact-checking website Boom found that the clip was "spliced from an interview of Singh talking to a news channel."

Dandiya has previously collaborated with YouTuber Dhruv Rathee.