Even as the battleground Karnataka heats up, the rumour mills are working overtime, especially in media circles to fan conspiracy theories. Even as people tried to fathom what is happening in the political circus of Karnataka, there was news that Karnataka MLAs were being shifted from Karnataka to some other state to stop them from defecting to the BJP. An India Today journalist reported last night that the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) did not give permission for a chartered flight which was to be used by Karnataka MLA elects to be shifted elsewhere.

This news spread like wildfire, with many media persons referring to the same as the death of democracy and how BJP has put all agencies to ‘good use’.

What next – put guns to the heads of elected MLAs at the time of voting in the house ? — Puja Mehra (@pujamehra) May 17, 2018

Journalists associated with The Hindu, without checking facts, referred to the said DGCA move as ‘goondaism’.

Goondaism — Puja Mehra (@pujamehra) May 17, 2018

However, when someone pointed out that the news of permission being denied could be fake, Puja Mehra, a journalist with The Hindu shifts goalpost and says how this is not the ‘only news item about his goondaism.

This is not the only news item about his goondaism — Puja Mehra (@pujamehra) May 17, 2018

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Pro AAP journalist, who seems to have given up on Kejriwal and gone back to Congress camp, too chimed in with the unverified news.

All are travelling by bus …Congress JD(S) MLAs on way to Pondicherry says H D Kumaraswamy. HDK says

‘BJP when they are in power are masters in misusing every constitutional institution”

‘They denied permission ( no permission to fly ‘#KarnatakaElections2018 — Rupashree Nanda (@rupashreenanda) May 17, 2018

NDTV ‘sources’ were also working overtime last night.

To which another pro-AAP journalist Ashutosh and Associate Editor (Politics) with Catch News, Aditya Menon, who was caught stoking tensions in Kashmir by using fake images, invoked Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya.

To allow Vijay Mallya flee midnight the look out notice was withdrawn quietly. Nirav Mod was allowed to flee in day light. Look at here…. https://t.co/NVqVSKQaCg — ASHUTOSH MISHRA (@ashu3page) May 17, 2018

Is this a banana republic? A govt which was sleeping when scamsters like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi from escaped is working overtime to control the movement of elected lawmakers https://t.co/X3endzdAd7 — Aditya Menon (@AdityaMenon22) May 17, 2018

It seemed like the entire army was out in full force to make sure the fake news reaches far and wide before clarifications fall through.

Thankfully, Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation clarified that the DGCA denying the permission to the chartered flight to fly is fake news.

Completely fake news https://t.co/p3UQYB98UK — Jayant Sinha (@jayantsinha) May 17, 2018

To that, The Hindu journalist Vijaita Singh said how the claims are asserted by JD(S) and hence it would be better if Sinha puts out facts instead of just claiming that it is fake news.

This is a claim made by JD(S), better to put out the facts than just say it’s fake news! — vijaita singh (@vijaita) May 17, 2018

To that, Sinha clarified, that domestic chartered flight require no DGCA approval.

Domestic charter flights do not require DGCA approval. They have to get their flight plan approved by local Air Traffic Control and then are free to fly. We will get a detailed report tomorrow and provide all the facts. https://t.co/ZpWE3ZqrwB — Jayant Sinha (@jayantsinha) May 17, 2018

He added that the ministry will give a detailed report today.

Meanwhile, Congress MLAs, who may soon swear in to serve the public, were seen escaping and changing buses on Hyderabad highway, where they are expected to stay.