Obscene video case: Barabanki BJP MP says video 'fake', vows not to contest polls 'until proven innocent'

A day after a fake 'obscene video' of Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian Upendra Singh Rawat went viral on social media, Rawat withdrew his candidature from the Barabanki seat in Uttar Pradesh.

Rawat, a sitting MP from Barabanki, was earlier named in the BJP's first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Now, the BJP leader said he will not contest any poll till proven innocent in 'obscene video' case.

He lodged an FIR and called the video fake. According to the FIR, reported by India Today, a few people allegedly made public a fake video of the MP after he was given a ticket in an attempt to tarnish his image.

In a post on his X, Rawat said, “An edited video of mine is being made viral which is generated by DeepFake AI technology, for which I have lodged an FIR. In this regard, I have requested the Honorable National President to get it investigated. I will not contest any election in public life until I am proven innocent."

With agency inputs.