Upendra Singh Rawat, the BJP MP from Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, has chosen to withdraw his candidacy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections after an alleged explicit video involving him surfaced. Despite being initially nominated by the BJP, Rawat decided to step back due to the controversy surrounding the video, which showed him in a compromising situation with a woman of foreign origin.
BJP’s Barabanki candidate Upendra Singh Rawat says will not contest any poll till proven innocent in ‘obscene video’ case
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 4, 2024
The Barabanki MP, however, refuted the authenticity of the video, labeling it as fake, and went on to file a First Information Report (FIR). The FIR alleges that certain individuals intentionally circulated the fake video following his nomination, aiming to smear his reputation.
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In a post on his social media platform, Rawat stated that an edited video of him is circulating, purportedly created using DeepFake AI technology. He mentioned lodging an FIR and requested the Honorable National President to initiate an investigation. Additionally, he declared his decision to abstain from participating in any public elections until proven innocent.
The BJP unveiled its initial roster of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections on February 2, consisting of 195 nominees, among whom 34 are ministers.
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