Screengrab from the viral video.
Credit: X/@NayakRagini
One of the BJP's primary contenders for the top post, Narendra Singh Tomar found himself in a soup after his son, Devendra Pratap Singh Tomar, was seen in a viral video allegedly discussing transactions worth hundreds of crores of rupees, leading to a decry from the Opposition. Singh filed a police complaint against the clip in retaliation.
Tomar, who filed the case against unknown persons on the basis of a complaint, alleged that the video was doctored and was circulated to tarnish his image.
“A viral video has surfaced where it is falsely claimed that I have conducted transactions worth crores. This doctored video is part of a conspiracy to malign me and create a negative impression. Fake video clips are being circulated on various social media platforms with the malicious intent of damaging my public image and reputation,” Tomar alleged in the complaint.
Asking authorities to thoroughly investigate the “conspiracy”, Tomar said that neither he nor anyone in his family ever received such a large sum of money, and that the allegations in the viral video were false and fabricated. He demanded “stringent action” against the "perpetrators".
In the clip, Tomar is seen talking to a man over video call and discussing funds amounting to Rs 100 crore. A man is also heard telling Tomar that Rs 18 crore funds belonging to him are deposited in four different accounts.
The Congress has now called for a judicial inquiry into the video and demanded that Tomar’s father, Union Minister Narendra Tomar, be sacked till the investigation is complete.
“Narendra Singh Tomar is a powerful man not just in Delhi, but also in Madhya Pradesh. A free and fair investigation isn't possible until his son is arrested,” Congress’s IT Chief Supriya Shrinate said.
Piyush Babele, media advisor to Madhya Pradesh Congress and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath, urged the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax department to verify the authenticity of the video.