Mumbai: Maharashtra Cyber Police Question Construction Worker Over Spreading Doctored Video of Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai, 2nd January 2025: On Wednesday, Maharashtra’s cyber police questioned Varad Tukaram Kanki, a Worli-based construction worker, regarding his suspected role in spreading a doctored video of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The video, which had circulated widely a week ago, was found on Kanki’s mobile phone after it was seized during the investigation.

Upon further examination, authorities discovered that Kanki had received the video through a WhatsApp group. They also identified Padmakar Ambolkar, another Worli resident, who allegedly shared the video in the group. Police plan to summon Ambolkar for questioning, an official confirmed.

On December 24, the Maharashtra cyber police filed an FIR against 12 unidentified social media users for circulating a “maliciously edited” video of Fadnavis’s speech on Naxalism. The speech, originally delivered when Fadnavis was the deputy chief minister, had discussed Naxalites’ rejection of the Indian Constitution and democracy. However, the edited video omitted crucial context, making it appear as though Fadnavis himself was dismissing the Constitution and democracy.

Following a complaint from a BJP representative, the police booked the 12 users for spreading false information likely to cause public fear and defamation, under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

Special Inspector General Yashasvi Yadav of the Maharashtra State Cyber Department stated that Kanki was identified after the video was found on his phone. He added that Ambolkar would be questioned to trace the chain of dissemination and identify the video’s source.