Maharashtra Congressman complains against Sambit Patra

Senior Maharashtra Congress leader and former minister Naseem Khan on Friday lodged a complaint against Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Sambit Patra for posting a "fake video".

Objecting to the video that emerged on the eve of Delhi polls, Khan has registered a complaint with Saki Naka police station in suburban Mumbai, and shot off letters to Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve and Election Commission of India seeking action against Patra.

"The BJP had stooped to the lowest levels while campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections. Since their defeat is confirmed, they are now resorting to cheap tricks like defaming the Opposition parties," Khan said.

He said that Patra has shared an old fake video fabricated by a BJP activist during the Maharashtra Assembly elections campaign in October 2019.

In the video which Patra posted on social media today, Naseem Khan is purpotedly saying: "Pakistan Zindabad, If Modiji has courage...then file a sedition case".

Patra also wrote: "Can anyone check the truth of this video for me? People in social media say this person is Congress leader Naseem Khan who is raising slogans of Pakistan Zindabad and challenging Modiji. Please run a fact check on this friend.. Do let me know."

Khan said that when that 'fake video' had first surfaced during the Maharashtra elections, he had immediately lodged a police complaint on October 9, 2019, against the BJP activist Venkat Boddul.

"Thereafter, the Mumbai Police investigations revealed that the original video had been altered by the accused to make the fake video, and the police case is on. Unfortunately, the BJP is now again spreading the same fake video to gain votes in Delhi elections," Khan said.

Despite all this, Khan said that Patra has chosen to upload it without verifying the antecedents in a bid to defame him (Khan) and tarnish the Congress image hours before the Delhi polls.