The incident dates back to 2022
On January 25, 2023, a viral claim swept through social media alleging that Aditya Verma, an Indian student linked to the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh), had been arrested and fined a substantial £22,500 ($24,500) for sending out a threat message.
Propaganda X handle Kalesh Bua wrote, Indian student with RSS connections arrested & fined £22,500 ($24,500) for sending out a fake threat message, I am Taliban. On my way to blow up a plane. Someone at Gatwick airport picked up the message and scrambled Spanish jets. Spanish MoD is seeking $103000 in expenses. He further wrote, When your upbringing in RSS culture teaches you to send your kid to one of those gurukuls and shakhas, he will grow up thinking it is ok to pull the kind of Taliban stunts that Aditya Verma tried to pull. This one is on his parents! Poor upbringing and Sanghis go together!
X handle named Mister J. wrote, Indian student Aditya Verma with RSS connections arrested & fined £22,500 ($24,500) for sending out a FAKE threat message — “I am taliban. On my way to blow up a plane.” Someone at Gatwick Airport picked up the message and scrambled Spanish jets. Spanish MoD is seeking $103000 in expenses.
Another X handle named Abu Zaid Sarooji while quoting NDTV’s report which says Indian-Origin Man Faces Trial In Spain After Joking About Blowing Up A Plane, wrote, “Joking”? Sanghi TV at its best. Indian man Aditya Verma who sent a threat message to blow up a plane pretending to be the Taliban was joking?
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During our investigation, we did keyword research with the relevant keywords and stumbled upon a report by India Weekly, dated July 7, 2022, shedding light on the incident behind the viral claims. Contrary to the social media rumors, the report identified the individual involved as Aditya Verma, an 18-year-old British chess prodigy who had secured a place at Cambridge University. Hailing from the affluent suburb of Orpington, Verma’s achievements included representing England at the European Youth Championships in Prague in 2012 and winning multiple British championships.
The report detailed a startling event in which an EasyJet flight from London to Menorca was escorted by a Spanish fighter jet due to a bomb threat made on social media. Verma, allegedly onboard, posted a menacing message on Snapchat, threatening to blow up the aircraft and identifying himself as part of the Taliban. Due to this, the 18-year-old Aditya Verma, traveling with friends, spent a night in jail.
After two nights in police custody, Verma faced court proceedings where Judge Belen Velazquez set bail at £8,600, one-tenth of the potential charge. The case was subsequently handed over to the Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s National High Court, situated in Madrid, citing national security concerns. Notably, the report made no mention of any connections between Aditya Verma and the RSS.
After this, we came across another report by The Sun published on January 17, 2024. According to this report, Aditya Verma, who is now 20 years old, is facing a court trial in Madrid on January 22, 2024. He’s being charged for sending a text during a July 2022 EasyJet flight that said, “I’m a Taliban.” Aditya, a gifted student from St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, Kent, got into trouble for what was supposed to be a joke during his graduation holiday.
The report tells us that because of Aditya’s comment, two fighter jets from the Spanish military were sent into action, showing how seriously the authorities took the situation. Despite being a bright student known for his chess achievements, he was taken into custody after telling friends on Snapchat that he planned to blow up the plane. He was later released on bail for £8,600 and allowed to leave Spain, but the investigation by the Audiencia Nacional continued.
It’s important to note that, just like previous reports, this one also doesn’t mention any connection between Aditya Verma and the RSS.
Furthermore, we came across a report by NDTV published on January 25, 2024. According to this report, Aditya Verma’s trial is happening in Spain. He’s a British man accused of causing trouble by joking about blowing up a plane. The incident happened when he and his friends were going to Menorca in July 2022, and Aditya posted a message on Snapchat from Gatwick airport saying, “On my way to blow up the plane (I’m a member of the Taliban).” UK security saw it and told the Spanish authorities while the EasyJet plane was still flying.
The trial details reveal that the message, caught through Gatwick’s Wi-Fi, raised concerns, leading to two Spanish fighter jets escorting the plane. Aditya, now studying economics at Bath University, defended his message in court, saying it was just a joke in a private group.
The report also mentions that police checked Aditya’s phone during the trial. Although they found he looked up clashes between Pakistan and India and the chances of an Islamic State attack in the area, there was nothing linking him to jihadist radicalism. Crucially, just like previous reports, this one didn’t say anything about Aditya Verma having connections with the RSS.
Hence, all these points prove that the claims of Aditya Verma having RSS connections are entirely misleading. The incident dates back to 2022 when the British teenager Aditya Verma made a regrettable joke about blowing up a plane, leading to his arrest and subsequent bail for £8,600. As the ongoing trial unfolds, it’s crucial to note that Aditya is not facing terrorism charges or imprisonment, but rather a potential fine of up to 22,500 Euros (Rs 20,35,145). Moreover, the Spanish defense ministry is seeking reimbursement of 95,000 Euros (Rs 85,92,835) in expenses.
After two nights in police custody, Verma faced court proceedings where Judge Belen Velazquez set bail at £8,600, one-tenth of the potential charge. The case was subsequently handed over to the Audiencia Nacional, Spain’s National High Court, situated in Madrid, citing national security concerns. Notably, the report made no mention of any connections between Aditya Verma and the RSS, dispelling the social media claims and emphasizing the importance of accurate information in understanding the incident.
| Claim | Indian Student Aditya Verma Linked to RSS arrested for a fake threat message about blowing up a plane in Spain |
| Claimed by | Kalesh Bua, Mister J., Abu Zaid Sarooji, etc |
| Fact Check | Misleading |
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