Sting video claims BJP leader paid Sandeshkhali women to frame TMC leaders

The Trinamool Congress released a 32-minute sting video of a man named Gangadhar Koyal, who was recorded on a spy cam.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday released a video alleging that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari hatched the Sandeshkhali conspiracy and paid women villagers to frame local TMC leaders so that the BJP may get an advantage ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

In the 32-minute video, a man named Gangadhar Koyal was recorded on a spy cam purportedly narrating how Adhikari instructed BJP functionaries to frame TMC strongmen and get them arrested so that the party may put up a fight in the TMC bastion. Koyal was identified in the video as the BJP’s mandal president in Sandeshkhali – II.

“We got it done as per instructions of Suvendu da. He helped us. Suvendu da advised us that if we can’t get the (TMC’s) strongmen arrested we won’t be able to put up a fight,” he was seen saying in the video while speaking to two unidentified men.

HT couldn’t independently ascertain the authenticity of the video

“And to get them (the strongmen) arrested they must be framed,” said one of the men with whom Koyal was speaking. Koyal smiled and nodded.

“I was asked to convince the women to file complaints of rape and I got them done. The women never refused. They did what they were asked to do. We told the women that if you can’t get the strongmen arrested, they won’t allow you villagers to live in peace. You will all be killed,” Koyal said in the video.

Violent protests had erupted at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas in February with women villagers demanding the arrest of TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides over allegations of sexual assault and illegal land grabbing.

“The women were asked to tell that they were raped at least 6–7 months ago. There would be no medical tests and their statements would be enough. A lot of brainwork went behind this,” the BJP functionary was seen purportedly saying while answering to questions posed by the unidentified men in the video.

Shahjahan was arrested by the state police on February 29 and handed over to the CBI on the orders of the Calcutta high court. The CBI is now probing into the allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing.

“The women were given money. Adhikari sent the money. One of the women (name withheld) became nervous. She was sent money by Adhikari. I had reports that there were some discrepancies in the distribution of money and some of the people left. Each was paid ₹2,000,” Koyal said in the video.

Koyal, however, told the media that this was a conspiracy against him and that the video was doctored.

“It is a conspiracy against me. I am being framed. Technology has been used to edit the video and my voice. It is a conspiracy against me, my party, Adhikari and the women of Sandeshkhali. I demand a CBI probe,” Koyal told the media.

The BJP has made the Sandeshkhali one of its key poll planks against the TMC this election. Top BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah have been attacking the TMC in every election rally over the Sandeshkhali unrest.

With the video surfacing, the TMC has hit back saying the BJP was conspiring to malign the state.

“The shocking Sandeshkhali sting shows how deep the rot is within the BJP. In their hatred for Bengal’s progressive thought & culture, the Bangla-Birodhis orchestrated a conspiracy to defame our state on every possible level. Never before in the history of India has a ruling party in Delhi tried to malign an entire state and its people. History will witness how Bengal will rise in rage against Delhi’s conspiratorial regime & ensure their Bishorjon,” chief minister Mamata Banerjee posted wrote on her X handle.

Adhikari told reporters: “I didn’t know whether it is some TMC functionary’s voice or some other person’s voice. It can be a mimicry.”

“These are TMC men who have been identified as BJP functionaries. The TMC knows very well that it is going to lose and is hence making up such stories to malign our leaders,” said Rahul Sinha, BJP leader.

Read more news like this on HindustanTimes.com