Who Is Manish Kashyap? Accused Of Spreading Fake Video Of Attacks On Migrant Laborers In Tamil Nadu

YouTuber Manish Kashyap aka Tripurari Kumar who had hogged the nation's attention after being jailed for allegedly spreading fake videos of attacks on Bihar migrant labourers in Tamil Nadu, has joined the BJP on Thursday. He was welcomed by the MP Manoj Tiwari.

After joining the party, he said, "...We came from Bihar with Manoj Tiwari, yesterday. I could be released from jail only due to them and the bad days of my life ended. So, I joined the BJP. We have to strengthen Bihar. Lalu family looted and destroyed Bihar. So, I joined the BJP. Together with BJP, I will strengthen Bihar...Allegations were levelled against me but the Patna Court not only granted me bail but also acquitted me. NSA slapped on me was withdrawn."

He claimed that his fight against those who defame Sanatana and those who are against nationalism will continue.

Who Is YouTuber Manish Kashyap?

Kashyap, a self-proclaimed supporter of PM Modi, is a resident of Muhnawa Dumari village in West Champaran. As per the reports, he completed his civil engineering degree in Pune in 2016.

He came to the limelight through his YouTube channel 'Sach Tak News', which was launched in 2018. He has used the channel to raise questions about government officials over the issues affecting the common man.

His videos have often run into controversies, leading to several cases being filed against him. Despite his constant legal troubles, Kashyap contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from jail, although his nomination was canceled. He later ran as an Independent candidate in the 2020 Bihar assembly elections from Chanpatia constituency, finishing third. The BJP has held the Chanpatia seat since 2000.

In 2019, Kashyap faced arrest on two occasions. Firstly, he was apprehended for allegedly damaging the statue of King Edward VII in Bettiah. Later that year, he was detained for purportedly assaulting a Kashmiri shopkeeper in Patna's Lhasa Market following the Pulwama attack.

Tamil Nadu Migrant Attack Row

Another such case resulted in his arrest for allegedly creating and sharing fake videos of Bihari migrants facing harassment in Tamil Nadu. Following the filing of cases by both the Tamil Nadu police and Bihar's Economic Offences Unit (EOU), Kashyap surrendered at the Jagdishpur police station.

The EOU has also frozen four bank accounts belonging to Kashyap. The Tamil Nadu Police has also registered 13 cases to probe the matter and the stringent National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against him.

He spent four months in Madurai Jail before being transferred to Beur jail in Patna. In May 2023, Kashyap approached the Supreme Court requesting the consolidation of all FIRs against him and the transfer of his cases to Patna.

However, the Tamil Nadu government opposed Kashyap's plea to club the FIRs lodged against him, saying he cannot "seek the shelter of the umbrella of constitutional rights". The state government claimed Kashyap attempted to instigate violence between Bihari migrant labourers and the people of Tamil Nadu through false and unverified videos.

However, the Supreme Court had expressed surprise over involing the NSA against him.

CJI Chandrachud had said, "NSA against him? Why this vengeance against this man?"

Appearing for Tamil Nadu, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said Kashyap made fake videos claiming that migrant labourers from Bihar were getting attacked in Tamil Nadu.

"He has got 60 lakh followers. He is a politician. He has contested elections. He is not a journalist," Sibal stated.

After spending nine months in jail, Kashyap was granted bail on December 23.