Karnataka BJP MLA files complaint after ‘intimate photos’ with woman goes viral

Karnataka BJP MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor on Thursday lodged a police complaint in connection with the release of his alleged intimate photos in which he is purportedly seen with an unidentified woman in Dakshina Kannada district.

In his complaint with Uppinangady police, Matandoor alleged that the photos were edited and posted on media by his detractors to sideline him in the party. He has also sought legal action against those behind the viral pictures.

On the other hand, the woman seen in the photograph has also filed a police complaint at the Uppinangady Police Station alleging that the viral picture was doctored.

Based on the complaint, police have registered an FIR under Sections 354A(1)(iv) (sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 67 (A) (punishment for publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act, etc., in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act and started investigation.

According to reports, the woman also released a video and denied any relationship with the MLA.

"The moment I saw the photographs, I filed a police complaint. I have also received some threat calls. People are misusing the tools on social media and are making baseless allegations against me," she said.

The development is seen as yet another setback to the ruling BJP party in Karnataka ahead of assembly polls. In the 2018 elections, Matandoor had defeated Congress candidate Shakuntala Shetty by 19,447 votes. If reports are to be believed the intention behind this viral photo was to put pressure on the saffron party to deny the ticket to BJP MLA Matandoor.

However this is not the first time, there were rumours earlier too over a private video of Matandoor being viral.

It is beig reported that Arun Kumar, a Hindu activist, and Ashok Rai, an industrialist, social activist and a supporter of former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, are also ticket aspirants from the Puttur constituency.

The elections to the 224-member Assembly in Karnataka will be held on May 10 and results will be declared on May 13.