Siddaramaiah’s ‘London Book of World Records’ tweet gets fact-checked online: ‘Made in Karol Bagh’

Online users also mocked the inconsistent language on the certificate, suggesting it was likely created locally rather than by an international organisation.

Updated on: Oct 17, 2025, 17:48:42 IST

By Shivya Kanojia

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Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s celebratory post about the state achieving two “world records” soon turned into an embarrassment after social media users and leaders of opposition parties questioned its credibility and flagged it as a fake certificate. The records, claimed to be issued by the London Book of World Records (LBWR), were found to be linked to a company that was dissolved earlier this year.

The CM’s post remained on X for nearly two hours before it was deleted. (HT_PRINT)

The CM had posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday that the state’s Shakti Scheme had been recognised by LBWR for enabling the highest number of free bus rides for women, 564.10 crore rides in total. He also stated that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had received 464 national and international honours since 1997. However, the announcement quickly came under scrutiny.

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BJP’s Amit Malviya mocked the Congress government for falling for what appeared to be a fake certification. “A BIG embarrassment for Congress. Yesterday, no less than Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah proudly claimed that two state schemes were recognised by the London Book of Records. Turns out — it’s FAKE. Someone literally conned the Congress,” Malviya posted on X, highlighting spelling and grammatical errors in the certificates.

The Janata Dal (Secular) also joined the criticism, pointing out that the UK firm “London Book of World Records” had no physical office or operations. The party claimed that the company merely sold “Gold, Silver and Platinum record packages”.

Several users on X pointed out that the London Book of World Records was no longer an active company in the UK. Official records from the UK Companies House show that it was dissolved on 15 July 2025.

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Online users also mocked the poor formatting and inconsistent language on the certificate, suggesting it was likely created locally rather than by a reputed international organisation. One user commented, “Someone in Karol Bagh has drafted it,” further fuelling online trolling.

The CM’s post remained on X for nearly two hours before it was deleted. By then, screenshots had already spread widely across social media, turning what was meant to be a moment of celebration into a major political embarrassment for the state government.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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