Congress Minister’s Objectionable Video Leaked, BJP Demands Dismissal

Rajasthan Minority Affairs Minister Shaleh Mohammad could be dismissed by his party over a viral objectionable video. According to Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), the footage shows Mohammad on a video call with a woman in her underwear. The woman reportedly filed an FIR over the leaked video.

BJP Rajasthan shared a video on Twitter showing Rajasthan Minority Affairs Minister Shaleh Mohammad on a video call with a woman in her underwear. The voices of the two cannot be heard but during the call, the view seemingly switches to the front camera showing Mohammad’s face for a few seconds. Then, towards the end of the video, a menu section can be seen showing “Shaleh Mohammad Ji” as a member of the call.

According to a local news website citing Jodhpur’s Shergarh police station officer Devendra Singh, the woman was from Jodhpur and had filed an FIR on December 5 regarding the video being leaked. She stated that the video was made by mistake and that his daughter accidentally sent it to someone while playing a game on his phone.

अशोक गहलोत जी, ये कोई पहला मौका नहीं है जब आपके मंत्री का किसी महिला के साथ आपत्तिजनक वीडियो वायरल हो रहा है।
क्या आप मंत्री सालेह मोहम्मद को बर्खास्त करेंगे या “वोट बैंक” के लालच में छोड़ देंगे? pic.twitter.com/aWpeiOKttT

— BJP Rajasthan (@BJP4Rajasthan) December 7, 2022

When the woman filed the FIR, five boys leaked the video. How they got access to the video is unclear. Following the complaint, the five boys – Pankaj Vishnoi, Vikas, Ravindra Vishnoi, Ramjas Vishnoi, and Sumit Vishnoi, were arrested.

BJP Rajasthan took a jab at Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and asked whether he will dismiss Mohammad or let him go for the vote bank. It reads, “Ashok Gehlot ji, this is not the first time an objectionable video of your minister with a woman has gone viral. Will you dismiss minister Saleh Mohammad or spare him due to your greed for the vote bank.”

Amit Malviya, in charge of BJP’s national information and technology department, said that Gehlot will not be able to do anything about Shaleh Mohammad because the Congress minister’s family has access to Sonia Gandhi. “Saleh Mohammad is the son of Muslim community’s religious guru and former cabinet minister Ghazi Fakir, who has died. Saleh was made the minister because of him. The family has access to (Congress leader) Sonia Gandhi. I think, Ashok Gehlot will not be able to do anything,” he said.

Back in January of this year, three people were arrested for blackmailing the Revenue Minister of Rajasthan, Ramlal Jat. They were accused of blackmail and conspiracy behind honey-trapping the minister.

Vineet Washington