India, April 18 -- The Indian government on Saturday issued a clarification and "fact check" on a social media influencer's video about who really needs an income-tax clearance certificate while traveling abroad. But the influencer, Sarthak Ahuja, hit back and said his video was not misleading.

The government's Press Information Bureau posted his video with the label "fake" on X and wrote: "An Instagram video by the account (@casarthakahuja) is claiming that all Indian citizens must obtain an income-tax clearance certificate (ITCC) every time before leaving the country. This claim is fake."

It added. "Under Section 230 [of the Income Tax Act, 1961], tax clearance certificates are not mandatory for everyone; they are only required for sp...