Fact-check: Did CJP protest in Delhi really see Sunita Williams and Naseeruddin Shah joining the ranks?

There’s an uneasy calm at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Tuesday (July 21) as members and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reclaimed the spot following their clashes with the police as they attempted to march to Parliament as part of their ‘Chalo Sansad’ march.

According to news agency PTI, the protesters camped at Jantar Mantar through the night despite rainfall, no electricity at the site and amid tight security.

Monday’s march to Parliament saw unprecedented scenes in the Indian capital as thousands of protesting students hit the roads, leading to chaos, confrontation and police action. The Delhi Police has filed five FIRs and launched an investigation into the violence.

The protest also became a trending topic on social media with thousands of videos and reels created on the topic. Many of the visuals shared online, however, are making dubious claims. One such instance is showing former Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams visiting the Jantar Mantar protest site. Another popular video shows Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay at the site, extending his support to the CJP.

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But are these true? Let’s find out.

Did Sunita Williams visit Jantar Mantar?

One of the most viral videos online amid the CJP protest claims that former Nasa astronaut Sunita Williams visited Jantar Mantar to support the agitation.

An X user named @Coacroach_party posted the video on X, which has since received over 300,000 views. Similar videos emerged across other social media platforms too, eliciting a lot of reactions.

However, an analysis of that video clip shows that it is, in fact, from the Kerala Literature Festival, which Williams attended in January. The video clearly shows Williams wearing an identity card with “KLF” written on it. Additionally, the police officials escorting the astronaut have shoulder patches bearing the logo of Kerala Police.

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay at the CJP protest?

Another video from the CJP protest that has gone viral shows Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay arriving at Jantar Mantar to show his support for the CJP movement.

Again, the claim in this video is false. The video actually shows Vijay en route to collect his winning certificate at Loyola College, Chennai on May 4, 2026. The car, driver, and clothing in the viral video match the visuals from these news reports.

Did Naseeruddin Shah join protesters in the march?

Another instance of such misinformation was the video showing Bollywood veteran Naseeruddin Shah allegedly standing in solidarity with the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar on Monday.

Several netizens shared a video claiming that the actor and his sons, Imaad and Vivaan, had joined the protest. One viral post stated, “Amidst the ongoing student movement at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Naseeruddin Shah arrived with his sons Imad and Vivan Shah. He did not give any public statement, simply standing quietly leaning against a pillar and observing the protest. He also watched the dispersing students with seriousness after the police action.”

However, Shah’s video isn’t from Delhi at all. Instead, it was shot in Mumbai. The original footage shows that Naseeruddin Shah was at a theatre event and not at Jantar Mantar. The cropped version circulating online omits portions of the video that reveal the actual location, creating the misleading impression that he was present at the protest.

Did CJP supporters pelt stones at a train?

As demonstrators marched towards Parliament on Monday, a video went viral after it claimed that CJP protesters had pelted stones at India’s newly launched hydrogen train.

Social media posts alleged that protesters targeted the eco-friendly train, smashing its windows and triggering panic among passengers at a railway station in Haryana.

But the Northern Railway has clarified this claim. It said in a statement that the viral video is old, adding that the train seen in the footage is not a hydrogen train. According to the railway zone, the train shown in the video is operated by a WAG-12 locomotive. It further said that the hydrogen train is running as per its scheduled timetable.

“The train shown in the video is not a hydrogen train… it is a train operated by the WAG 12 loco. It is probably some old video. The hydrogen train is providing its services as per its scheduled time,” the zonal railway said.

Did a girl die on the spot at the protest?

There have also been claims of a girl dying at the Jantar Mantar protest as a result of police brutality. However, India’s government fact-checker has dispelled this claim as misinformation. It stated that no death has been registered from the protest at all.

These are just some examples of how misinformation has spread like wildfire amid the protests being held in Delhi.

With inputs from agencies