3 minute readmumbaiMarch 31, 2026 01:25 PM (IST)
In a new twist in the controversy involving NCP minister Nalhari Jirwal, a transgender woman who was seen in a viral video has filed a police complaint against her brother, accusing her of doctoring the video and using it to extort money.
The case was initially registered at Marine Drive police station based on the complainant’s statement, but it was later transferred to Cuffe Parade police station as the minister’s office falls under its jurisdiction.
Police said the 35-year-old complainant filed a complaint at Marine Drive police station last week after a video surfaced online showing Mr Zirwal, the complainant and another person in a bedroom. She claimed in a statement that her brother used AI tools to distort old footage to create misleading content, which he used to blackmail her.
The FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Act and Information Technology Act for criminal intimidation and related offences.
According to police officials, the video appears to have been shot in the presence of a third party, raising questions about who shot it and under what circumstances. “We are investigating when the footage was recorded, who shot it and whether it was altered,” the police officer said, adding that cyber experts were involved in analyzing the footage.
The complainant also alleges that her brother pressured her to secure a job at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the department that Zirwal currently works for.
Controversy erupted after the video went viral on social media, sparking political attention and scrutiny. Zirwal has not publicly commented in detail on the allegations, but police insist they are still investigating the authenticity of the video.
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This development comes amid a series of controversies involving the NCP. While officials associated with Jirwal were recently arrested in Mantralaya for allegedly accepting bribes, the party has also been embroiled in other high-profile cases, including the arrest in the rape case of self-styled godman Ashok Khalat and party leader Rupali Chakankar’s resignation as state women’s committee chairperson.
The latest FIR has shifted its focus to allegations of manipulation and extortion, and investigators are now probing various angles, including the source of the video, possible tampering, and the role of those involved in distributing the video.
