FACT CHECK: Bill Gates Visits Varanasi’s Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Claim:
A video shared on social media claims to show Microsoft co-founder and former CEO Bill Gates visiting the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.

Fact:
False. The person in the video is not Bill Gates but a foreign tourist.

Evidence:

1. Social Media Investigation:
   • The viral video was analyzed using the InVid Tool, revealing keyframes shared across various social media posts with similar claims.
   • Several users also linked the video to other events, such as the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, further muddying the claim’s validity.
2. Official Statements:
   • The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation confirmed that the claim is false, stating via email that Gates did not visit the temple.
3. Geolocation Analysis:
   • A keyframe from the video was geolocated to Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi.
   • The location and surroundings in the video matched the ghat, not the Kashi Vishwanath Temple premises.
4. Absence of News Reports:
   • No credible news sources or social media accounts, including Gates’ own verified accounts, reported any recent visit to India.
   • Gates’ last documented visit to India was in March 2024, detailed in his blog on his official website, Gates Notes.

Conclusion:
The viral video claiming to show Bill Gates at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi is misleading. The man in the video is a foreign tourist, not Gates. This is a false claim spread on social media.