PIB Refutes Rumours of Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Residence Being Sealed, Calls Social Media Claims ‘Fake’

New Delhi: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued a strong clarification refuting viral social media claims that the official residence of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has been sealed following his recent resignation. According to the PIB’s Fact Check division, these claims are “completely false and misleading.”

“It is being widely claimed on social media that Vice President’s official residence has been sealed and former VP has been asked to vacate his residence immediately. These claims are fake. Don’t fall for misinformation,” the PIB stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The fact-check warning urged citizens to rely only on verified and official sources for news, cautioning against forwarding or engaging with unverified social media rumours.

Background: Resignation Sparks Speculation

The clarification comes amid growing public and political interest following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation from the post of Vice President on Monday, citing health reasons. Dhankhar, who had completed nearly two years of his five-year term, became only the third Vice President in Indian history to step down mid-term.

His resignation has triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition, with Congress President and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raising suspicions about the abrupt nature of the decision.

“The government should come clean. His health appeared fine. He always stood in support of the BJP and RSS. There’s something suspicious behind this. The country deserves to know the truth,” said Kharge in a press conference on Wednesday, implying possible political pressure behind the resignation.

Election Commission Begins VP Poll Process

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has started preparations for electing the next Vice President. The process includes compiling the Electoral College, made up of both elected and nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, finalising the Returning Officer, and assembling background data from previous vice-presidential polls.

The ECI is expected to release the election schedule in the coming days, following constitutional protocols to ensure that the office does not remain vacant for long.