Claim: An image shows Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori in police custody 15 years ago for stealing a bike.
Fact: The image actually shows Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori in police custody for allegedly being involved in a police encounter in 2008.
On 11 April 2023, Haqeeqat TV shared an image on Twitter of Sindh Governor Muhammad Karam Tessori with another image of him in police custody with the caption “15 سال قبل بائیک چوری کرنے والا MQM کا کامران ٹیسوری آج سندھ کا گورنر ہے” [Translation: MQM’s Kamran Tesori, who stole a bike 15 years ago, is today the Governor of Sindh.]
Fact or Fiction?
A reverse image search of the photo of Kamran Tessori in police custody revealed that it was first published in 2008 in an article by Dawn. The article was headlined, “KARACHI: Tessori remanded in police custody.”
The article was published on 7 November 2008; it said that Tessori was a gold trader who was now in police custody till the next day. According to this article, Tessori was allegedly involved in a shootout with the police who arrested him at the Karachi airport on 5 November 2008, as soon as he arrived from Islamabad.
The article further said that Tessorit was one of the three suspects who were allegedly present at a place near Hawkesbay on 25 July 2023 and were already wanted in a case registered under Sections 353, 223, 224, 225, 225-A, 395, 119 and 120-B of the Pakistan Penal Code in district Badin, the prosecution said. These sections correspond to the crimes of “assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty”, absconding from police custody, obstruction of someone else’s lawful apprehension and dacoity.
When the police raided a place near Hawkesbay and found that the suspects were present in a car, when they were asked to step out of the vehicle, they opened fire at the police. Only ten days later, Tessori was granted bail. However, apart from the case in Badin, six other cases were registered against Kamran Tessori under the Arms Ordinance, Control of Narcotic Substances Act and Sections 353 and 324 of the PPC.
Tessori was initially under police custody in Badin for his suspected involvement in the Gold City land scam, for which he was allotted 80 acres of land by former Chief Minister Sindh, Arbab Ghulam Rahim.
Virality
The Haqeeqat TV tweet was shared with 886,600 followers and received 30,274 interactions. This platform is notorious for spreading misinformation and has 4.4 million subscribers on YouTube as well.
Conclusion: Kamran Tessori was not taken into police custody 15 years ago for stealing a bike. According to Dawn reports from 2008 and 2009, he was involved in a land scam, escaped police custody and was also involved in a police shoot-out.