Following the recent announcement of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a scandal involving a fake obscene video has emerged, targeting sitting MP Upendra Singh Rawat and poll candidates from Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh.
A forged and objectionable video purportedly depicting BJP MP Upendra Singh Rawat has circulated widely on social media platforms, prompting his team to take legal action. Aditya Tripathi, the in-charge of the Kotwali police station, confirmed the filing of an FIR against an unidentified perpetrator in connection with the incident.
As per the FIR, the doctored video, released by unknown individuals, aims to defame the MP following his declaration as a BJP candidate. Police authorities have indicated that the video, circulating online, portrays a man in a compromising position with a woman, allegedly identified as Upendra Singh Rawat.
Responding to the allegations, the MP vehemently denied any involvement, asserting that the video is entirely fabricated. He accused his political opponents of orchestrating the dissemination of the video to tarnish his image following his nomination by the BJP from Barabanki. Rawat further claimed that the footage in question has been manipulated using Artificial Intelligence (AI), insisting that the individual depicted is not him but someone else.
In an interview with Jagran news media, Rawat emphasised the potential age of the video, suggesting it could date back to 2022-23, and emphasised the deliberate attempt to besmirch his reputation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, MP’s personal secretary Dinesh Rawat revealed that multiple videos, all sharing identical time frames, were circulated on Sunday, March 3rd. He underscored the urgency of apprehending the perpetrators behind the malicious act and demanded strict legal action against them.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP nominated Upendra Singh Rawat to contest from the Barabanki seat, replacing incumbent MP Priyanka Singh Rawat.
The BJP’s initial list of 195 candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, announced on Saturday, March 2nd, included prominent figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and Rajnath Singh. The list encompasses candidates from various states, with a strategic focus on increasing representation from diverse backgrounds, including women and scheduled castes.
As anticipation mounts for the official announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election dates by the Election Commission of India, scheduled to be held in April and May, political tensions are on the rise, with parties gearing up for a contentious electoral battle.
