A political controversy erupted on Tuesday when Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Dambe posted a series of short videos on social media, claiming that a man purported to be a ruling party MLA was seen having a video call with a person sitting next to a wad of cash.
The clip was released during the winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly, days after the first phase of local body elections concluded.
Opposition parties, including Dambe, hinted that the man seen in the video was Shinde Sena MLA Mahendra Dalvi.
The first video, which is four seconds long and has no sound, purports to show Shiv Sena MLA Mahendra Dalvi having a video call. Two other clips, at 9 seconds and 13 seconds, show stacks of banknotes next to a man in a red T-shirt, but his face is not visible.
However, Dalvi, who was in Nagpur, denied any involvement, saying he had no information about where and by whom the video was made. “If someone brings me evidence, I'll resign from my job. It looks like the video was generated by AI,” he said.
Minister Sanjay Sirsat expressed support for Dalvi, saying the video was generated and morphed by AI and defending Dalvi's public stance.
“I have seen the alleged video, a clip that has been morphed using AI. Dalvi has already revealed that she is in Nagpur. Only those who are completely convinced of their innocence can make such a strong statement. Opposition parties can create an AI video of any MLA,” Sirsat said.
Responding to the complaint, Danbu said, “If it has been altered, Dalvi should lodge a complaint with the police.If the police come, I will share everything with them.I want them to investigate.''
He also distanced himself from Dalvi's offer to resign if proven guilty, saying: “I'm not asking anyone to resign. I'm not making any personal accusations. I'm just presenting what comes to mind.”
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Earlier, former opposition leader in the Legislative Council Danbu claimed that the video exposed the ruling party's MLAs.
“This government does not have the funds to waive farmer loans. The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister must tell the people who this MLA is and why they are seeing bundles of currency notes,” he wrote in a post on X.
NCP (SP) MP Shashikant Shinde raised the issue in the council meeting and sought a probe.
Sena ruling MLA Mahendra Sobh defended Dalvi and accused him of trying to sensationalize the issue during the meeting. Sobh also hinted at tensions within the Mahayuti and indirectly linked the unrest to NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, a rival of Sena leader Dalvi, Sobh and Raigad district minister Bharat Gogawale.
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In July, a similar video of Sirsat himself went viral, but he also dismissed the accusations.
Reacting to the uproar, Congress state president Nana Patole claimed that the Mahayuti government wanted power “only to plunder the state”.
