An image is going viral on social media purportedly to show Delhi's Shaheen Bagh protesters are bribed with Rs 500 a day for participating in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests. 

A Facebook user named V K Sharma shared this picture along with a caption, Our fixed rate is RS 500/ from 7 pm to 12 o’clock night, no bargaining and over and above this, we offer some extra services as per services asked for price depends on services ( don’t misunderstand extra services that include abusing to Modi by children, and singing poems, etc and other desirous services on demand)".

In the image, a group of women and children can be seen standing in front of a closed shop. A banner, with the text "Fix Rate Rs. 500/ Day. 7 pm to 12 pm Shaheen Bagh" can be seen stuck on the shutter.

A South-Delhi neighborhood, Shaheen Bagh is witnessing an anti-CAA, NRC and NPR protest. The demonstration began on December 15, 2019, following Delhi Police cracked down on Jamia Millia Islamia students who were opposing the new citizenship law. 

A number of people on social media are claiming that the protesters of Shaheen Bagh are being paid an amount for turning up at the demonstration.

The truth behind the claim

In our investigation, we found this image to be fake. With the help of a reverse image search, we found a report by The Huffington Post where the same image was published. 

In the original image, no such text is written which implies that protesters were bribed for showing solidarity to the anti-CAA demonstrations.

In the original image, the text in the banner reads, "CAA and NRC should be withdrawn".

The picture was captured during the protests of Shaheen Bagh on January 7, 2020. The image was originally clicked by AFP's Money Sharma for Getty Images.

In conclusion, the picture being used to claim that Shaheen Bagh protesters to be paid Rs 500 per day for sitting in the demonstrations is completely fake and has been edited from a picture where Anti-CAA NRC slogans were written.