Dhananjay Munde’s speech was distorted with criminal intent, says NCP leader

A day after a case against NCP leader Dhananjay Munde over his alleged derogatory remarks against cousin and Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde, an FIR has been filed against an unidentified person for distorting the speech.

An FIR was lodged by local NCP leader Walmik Karad on Sunday evening, police said.

He alleged that Dhananjay Munde’s speech was edited with criminal intent and he suspected the role of BJP’s social media handler behind the edited clip.

Notably, both cousins Dhananjay Munde and Pankaja Munde are standing against each other in Maharashtra assembly elections from the Parli segment in Beed district.

Based on the complaint filed by Karad, Parli police filed an FIR against an anonymous person under Indian Penal Code Sections 469 (forgery to harm the reputation of any party), 34 (common intention) and provisions of the Information Technology Act.

Karad also alleged in the complaint that Dhananjay’s main speech at a rally was distorted with an attempt to ‘character assassinate’ him.

“We suspect the hand of BJP's social media handlers behind this clip,” Karad said.

The video of NCP leader saying some derogatory remarks against the minister went viral on social media, following which BJP filed a complaint against Dhananjay Munde on Saturday, an official said.

The FIR was lodged on Saturday night against NCP leader under India Penal Code Sections 500 (defamation), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 294 (obscene act in public place), he said.

On the other hand, Dhananjay Munder refuted the charges alleged on him.

He said that the viral clip was edited and fake, and his remarks were distorted to pull down his image during elections.

However, Pankaja Munde, who cast her vote in Parli on Monday, told reporters later that the video clip was not fake.

"I saw the clip several times and was hurt seeing the manner in which the speech was made and words used. The clip is not fake. The reaction and the tears shed later are fake," she said.

-With PTI inputs

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