Former President of India Dr Pranab Mukherjee was admitted to the Army Hospital (R&R) Delhi Cantt at 12:07 hours on 10 August 2020 and underwent a surgery for removal of a clot in his brain. He was also found to be COVID-19 positive.
Soon after a piece of news started doing the rounds which said that former President of India succumbed to the virus. One such post cited a report by media portal ‘Northeastupdate.in’. The report has now been taken down.
#rajiv_tyagi#CBIForSSR JaichandPranab mukherjee dead.?? Is this true?? pic.twitter.com/6hePaMDUBK
— Navin Sethia (@nsethia01) August 12, 2020
The consulting editor at India Today Group, Rajdeep Sardesai had also tweeted, ‘Breaking: Former president Pranab Mukherjee has passed away.. farewell Pranab da.. many many fond memories of a dyed in the wool true Indira generation politician who lived and breathed politics..’
The Logical Indian received a request to verify this ‘news’.
Claim:
Former President of India Dr Pranab Mukherjee succumbed to COVID-19.
Fact Check:
The claim is false.
As of August 13, 7 AM, the former President remains in critical condition but alive.
According to the latest update, residents of Kirnahar and Mukherjee’s extended family members started a 72-hour ‘yagna’ on Janmashtami that was onAugust 11. His family members also offered prayers in his ancestral village Miriti.
Pranab Mukherjee’s son Abhijit Mukherjee tweeted on August 12 that his father was ‘haemodynamically stable’.
With All Your Prayers , My Father is haemodynamically stable now . I request everyone to continue with your prayers & good wishes for his speedy recovery . Thank You #PranabMukherjee
— Abhijit Mukherjee (@ABHIJIT_LS) August 12, 2020
Sharmistha Mukherjee’s called the rumours false in her latest tweet.
Rumours about my father is false. Request, esp’ly to media, NOT to call me as I need to keep my phone free for any updates from the hospital
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) August 13, 2020
Sardesai later issued a clarification on his tweet.
Note friends: reports of the passing away of former President Pranab Mukherjee have been denied.. Pranab da remains critical but is fighting on. He has always fought through good times and bad and we hope he wins this battle too.. our thoughts with his family..
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) August 13, 2020
My deep deep apologies for falling for fake news being circulated on Pranab Mukherjee passing away. I am deeply distraught for falling for this fake news.. it was unprofessional of me to not reconfirm it before tweeting. Apologies to all.. and prayers with the family..
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) August 13, 2020
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