kolhapur: A video clip in which Shiv Sena MLA and State Planning Commission vice-chairman Rajesh Kshirsagar is seen allegedly seeking development work from a contractor has sparked political turmoil, with the legislator strongly denying the charges and terming the clip as “AI-dubbed” and misleading.“The video clip has been dubbed with AI to create a false impression. The original conversation had nothing to do with the government contract. Rather, I was trying to help this man with a specific issue. I will file a complaint with the cyber police to find the person who dubbed the fake conversation using AI,” Kshirsagar said, denying the corruption allegations.The video was released on social media and was first spread by Shiv Sena (UBT) worker Ravikiran Ingaveer. Congress MLC Satej Patil called for clarity and asked Kshirsagar to explain the “video clip and content of the conversation”.Sena (UBT) official Sunil Modi claimed the clip was authentic, adding that the party was in possession of detailed information about its source. PM Modi also claimed that he knew who shot the video and its contents. “However, I won’t reveal the details because I don’t want to embarrass the person who shot me,” he said.Amid the deepening controversy, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has announced that it will move an adjournment motion in the monsoon session of Parliament to seek a discussion on the alleged misconduct by Sena MLAs.But Kshirsagar has come to his defense, calling the episode a deliberate attempt to smear him politically through manipulated technology, insisting that the conversation had nothing to do with any government contracts and was an attempt to support an individual.Supporting him, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil said the viral clip was part of a “conspiracy to defame and damage” Kshirsagar. “Opposition parties should know that they need permission from the Speaker to move a motion against Kshirsagar’s ministerial figures. The conspirators themselves live in glass houses and the tide may turn against them in the future,” Patil said.But Congress remained unconvinced and condemned Kshirsagar’s escape. “It is the responsibility of public representatives to bring to light allegations of corruption and wrongdoing. Kshirsagar is only concerned about how the video clip was disseminated and is shirking his responsibility to answer questions,” said Rajesh Latkar, a Kolhapur municipal councilor.
