After Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday promised a detailed probe into the matter, the crime branch of the Mumbai Police has initiated an inquiry in connection with a purported “explicit” video of Maharashtra BJP leader Kirit Somaiya which showed him in a compromising position, an official confirmed on Wednesday.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) women’s wing also recently staged a protest against Somaiya in Pune over the allegedly explicit video. The Mahila Aghadi members have sought action against the BJP leader and demanded his expulsion from the party.
Somaiya also wrote to Deputy CM Fadnavis with regard to the video. The leader’s letter to Fadnavis reads, “A Marathi news channel broadcast a video clip of mine. With reference to the clip, multiple allegations have been levelled against me.” “Some people claim that there are many such clips of mine. I request you to verify the authenticity of the viral video clip. Many have claimed that I exploited many women. I have never done anything like that. I request you to probe all these allegations.”
Leaders of both the Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction said the video “exposes” the BJP leader’s character, and have claimed that there are many such video clips in existence. Speaking in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, Fadnavis had promised that a thorough probe would be conducted into the viral video. “A thorough probe will be done. No one will be protected. The police will find out the identity of the (aggrieved) woman. Nothing will be brushed under the carpet,” Fadnavis said. The video has yet to be authenticated by independent sources.
