Today(on 10th May), BJP’s Gangadhar Kayal from Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, petitions Calcutta High Court over a ‘fake’ video circulating on social media, claiming manipulation of his image in the footage allegedly from a sting operation.
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KOLKATA: Today(on 10th May), Gangadhar Kayal, a prominent local leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, has approached the Calcutta High Court regarding an alleged ‘fake’ video that has been circulating on social media platforms.
The video, which surfaced on May 4, has caused a significant stir in the state’s political landscape. Kayal claims that his image was manipulated in the video, which was purportedly created through a sting operation or hidden camera operation conducted in Sandeshkhali.
The contentious video emerged last Saturday and depicts what appears to be a hidden camera or “sting operation” in Sandeshkhali, featuring Kayal. The video purports to show him admitting to orchestrating the Sandeshkhali movement in exchange for money, claiming-
“The women in that region made false accusations of rape and mistreatment against Trinamool leaders.”
Following the release of this video, several others surfaced quickly, showing women from Sandeshkhali alleging they were coerced into signing documents and lodging false charges.
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The authenticity of the video that spurred Kayal to seek legal recourse remains unclear, though he is prominently featured in the initial footage. In his petition for justice, Kayal has also requested personal security, stating in his application-
“he feels insecure.”
This incident has put the state BJP in an uncomfortable position, particularly as the video includes multiple mentions of a person named Subhendu, and Kayal is heard saying-
“The rape accusations and the protests were orchestrated based on his instructions.”
The BJP has staunchly refuted the video’s authenticity from the start, claiming it was created using advanced deepfake technology to falsely attribute statements to Kayal. The party has called for a CBI investigation into the matter, a request that has been echoed by Kayal himself, who has already reported his complaint to the CBI before proceeding with the High Court case.
ALSO READ: Sandeshkhali Row | CBI Registers FIR Against ‘Five Individuals’ for Land Grab and Sexual Harassment
On the other hand, the Trinamool Congress has been proactive in their response since the video’s emergence. They have accused the BJP of orchestrating the Sandeshkhali incident to malign Bengal’s image nationally, stating-
“The dignity of mothers and sisters has been tarnished.”
The state’s ruling party has also criticized the BJP’s call for a CBI investigation, suggesting it is a tactic to divert attention from their own culpability.
