FACT CHECK: No, Pankaj Tripathi Did NOT Campaign Against BJP in an Ad — The Viral Video is Edited

Pankaj Tripathi in the NPCI UPI safety awareness ad campaign

Actor Pankaj Tripathi as a peanut seller in NPCI's public service announcement

Claim:
Actor Pankaj Tripathi campaigned against the BJP in a video shared by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Verdict:
False. The viral video is edited. The original footage is part of a public service announcement about UPI frauds and does not mention BJP.

The Claim:

A video featuring actor Pankaj Tripathi, shared by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on December 5, 2024, claims he campaigned against the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). In the clip, Tripathi appears as a peanut seller, accusing the BJP of making false promises of development, saying, “I sell peanuts, not my brain… If the BJP tempts you, say, ‘I am not a fool.’”

This video was widely circulated by AAP’s official Rajasthan and Seelampur social media accounts, alongside others. While the post has since been deleted, an archived version remains available.

Fact-Check Analysis:

1. Reverse Image Search Findings

Keyframes from the viral video were reverse-searched, revealing the original clip dated September 23, 2023. In this version, Pankaj Tripathi is seen warning against UPI fraud, not discussing any political party.

In the original footage, when Tripathi shows his phone screen, it displays a fraudulent lottery message: “Winner. Congrats! You have won a lottery of Rs 25,00,000! To claim your prize, click here.” However, in the edited viral clip, this text was altered to feature BJP’s symbol and the words: “Vote for BJP.”

2. Campaign Details

In November 2023, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) announced that Pankaj Tripathi would serve as its “UPI Safety Ambassador.” The NPCI campaign, titled “Main Moorkh Nahi Hoon” (I’m Not a Fool), was designed to raise awareness about digital payment scams.

The ad, conceptualized by Ogilvy, featured Tripathi portraying different roles, including a peanut seller, to educate the public about tactics scammers use.

3. NPCI’s Official Statement

A press release dated November 6, 2023, confirmed the launch of a UPI Safety Awareness Campaign starring Tripathi. Three ads in the series have been released so far, focusing on identifying fraudulent messages and protecting users from scams.

4. PR Team Confirmation Pending

FactCheck India reached out to Pankaj Tripathi’s PR team for comments regarding the viral video. At the time of publication, no response has been received.

Context:

With Assembly elections in Delhi scheduled for February 2025, political campaigns have intensified, and misinformation is increasingly being used as a tool to sway public opinion. The edited video featuring Pankaj Tripathi appears to be an attempt to mislead voters by falsely associating him with anti-BJP sentiments.

Conclusion:

The viral video purportedly showing Pankaj Tripathi campaigning against BJP is edited. The original video is part of an NPCI public service campaign on UPI fraud, with no mention of any political party.

Verdict: False.