Old Rahul Gandhi’s image with a German minister shared as that of Hindenburg Research CEO; Fact Check

An image is being shared on social media showing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with a German claiming that he was Nate Anderson, chief of Hindenburg Research, which had released its report alleging Adani group of “brazen stock manipulation and accounting fraud”.

The narrative is that Rahul Gandhi met Hindenburg Research chief and the report on Adani Group was the outcome of it and some retweeted it with demands that Rahul Gandhi should be probed first.

Some tweets have carried the following message on Twitter: “Hindenburg short seller Nate Anderson collaborated with Indian National Congress led by Rahul Gandhi, to target Indian financial system… Congress under Rahul Gandhi has gone to new lows in their bid to get back to power in the upcoming general elections of 2024.”

#Hindenburg short seller Nate Anderson collaborated with Indian National Congress led by Rahul Gandhi, to target Indian financial system.

Congress under Rahul Gandhi has gone to new lows in their bid to get back to power in the upcoming general elections of 2024.

— Alt_Facts (@FactChecker09) January 30, 2023

It has been shared by another here with a demand that the probe into the issue be ordered starting with Rahul Gandhi.

If this picture is true, Modi government should start investigating @RahulGandhi relationship with hindenburg chief. Govt should file case against @INCIndia and it’s leadership for dragging govt in controversy on a private agency report on a biz co. And blemishing country imaze. pic.twitter.com/6k3gEQrM3L

— K Birendra Tiwari 🇮🇳 (Nationalist) (@kbirendratiwari) February 8, 2023

FACT CHECK

When our team searched in Google Reverse Image Search for the image, a similar photo of Rahul Gandhi meeting a German Minister as a part of his diaspora outreach programme in 2018.

Germany’s Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office Niels Annen met Rahul Gandhi and the photo was shared by Annen with a message: “Mr Gandhi visited Germany as a part of his diaspora outreach programme ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.”

Honored to receive ⁦@INCIndia president⁩ ⁦@RahulGandhi⁩ in my constituency #Eimsbüttel in Hamburg. India 🇮🇳 is a valued partner and close friend ⁦@AuswaertigesAmt⁩ ⁦@GermanyDiplo⁩ ⁦@GermanyinIndia⁩ #WillkommenRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/V9fXKSRqox

— Niels Annen 🇪🇺 (@NielsAnnen) August 22, 2018

The Congress Party had also shared a tweet of the meeting on August 22, 2018.

Congress President @RahulGandhi met @NielsAnnen, Minister of State & Member of the Bundestag and discussed Indian & German politics, floods in Kerala, GST & Jobs.#WillkommenRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/xLufHI3zY6

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 22, 2018

Hence, the man in the 2018 photo with Rahul Gandhi is German politician Niels Annen and not the chief of Hindenburg Research, Nate Anderson.

Claim: Rahul Gandhi met Hindenburg chief Nate Anderson before release of report on Adani group.
Conclusion: The image was morphed and false.
Rating: Totally False —