FAKE: Stephen Hawking’s photo shared saying former CJI Dipak Misra paralysed

When misinformation is circulated with an intent to mislead, fake news is born. At times, sarcastic messages and jokes are perceived to be true and then shared ahead as “news”.
In what’s believed to be such a case, a graphic card that has late physicist Stephen Hawking’s photo is being shared with a caption describing the photo as that of former CJI Dipak Misra. The message that is being circulated widely on social media platforms is that former CJI Misra is now paralysed because of Lord Ayyappa’s "curse" for Misra’s verdict on the Sabarimala Temple, allowing entry to women of all ages to the Temple.
The message reads, “This is Deepak Mishra, a former chief justice of Supreme Court who has delivered the verdict on Sabarimala woman entry 3 weeks ago. This is really shocking...!!! one side of his body has paralyzed now because of Lord Ayyappa curse...! This should be lesson for Kerala CM Pinarayi, who trying hard to implement Sabarimala verdict.! Don't mess with God...! Jai Shree Ram (sic)".
Here's the post:

TRUTH
Most people won’t fall for this fake graphic card because they recognise Stephen Hawking and / or former CJI Dipak Misra. But chances are that there could be many who do not.
For the uninitiated, this is Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the greatest physicists and cosmologists of all time, who died on March 14, 2018.

Hawking was diagnosed with a rare motor-neuron disease called Amyotophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), when he was just 21. The disease gradually paralysed him. He was wheel-chair bound and dependent on a computerised voice system, most of his life.
This is former CJI Dipak Misra, who retired on October 2, 2018.

During his tenure as the Chief Justice of India, Misra gave many vital verdicts including upholding constitutional validity of Aadhaar with some riders, decriminalising gay sex and adultery, the refusal to order release of five activists recently, giving a green signal to live streaming of court proceedings and allowing women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple.
Facebook user who goes by the name “Anoop Kumar Niravuparambil” posted the graphic card to different Facebook groups, two of them being “Anti-BJP” and “Mission 2019-BJP Bhagao Desh Bachao”.

The user also shared a post with similar content in the graphic card, this time in Malayalam, with a caption that closely translates to, “One side of the judge who gave the (Sabarimala) verdict paralysed. Saw Ayyappa's power?"

The original post in Malayalam that used the photo of Stephen Hawking saying one of the judges who pronounced the Sabarimala verdict -- Paripoorna Rao -- was partially paralysed as Lord Ayyappa decided to punish him for the verdict, was shared by more than 1,300 Facebook users. Over 1,900 users reacted to this post.

Most posts shared by Anoop Kumar are anti-right wing and it's quite clear that he shared the Stephen Hawking graphic card to mock the above ridiculous message that was shared widely. While some people perceive these posts as sarcastic, some believe it to be spread by those who are upset with Misra's verdict on Sabarimala.


When a Facebook page that goes by the name of "Drunk Journalist" shared his post saying "Dipak Misra deserves this", Anoop Kumar shared that post with a caption that clearly suggests he enjoys it when people fall for his sarcastic posts.


Always take graphic cards like these with a pinch of salt. Stay aware, stay alert.