The Crime Branch in Bhopal has initiated legal action against a senior leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), registering a formal case for criminal defamation and forgery. The case targets former minister Somnath Bharti and stems from a complaint lodged by Delhi BJP legislator and former co-in charge for Madhya Pradesh, Satish Upadhyay.
What Sparked the Legal Complaint?
According to police authorities, the core of the issue lies in social media activity. Somnath Bharti allegedly published unverified and misleading accusations targeting BJP MLA Satish Upadhyay on a social media platform. The police stated these posts damaged the political reputation of the complainant. Following a preliminary probe into the allegations, the Crime Branch decided to file a formal First Information Report (FIR).
Detailed Timeline of the Allegations
The official police account provides a specific sequence of events. On November 19, 2025, a written complaint was submitted to Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanachari Mishra. The complainant was Sumit Pandey, a 40-year-old resident of Kolar, who acted on behalf of BJP MLA Satish Upadhyay. The Police Commissioner then directed the specialized Crime Branch unit to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The complaint detailed that in April 2025, during a stay in Bhopal, AAP's Somnath Bharti shared a post on social media. This post claimed that a criminal complaint had been officially filed against Satish Upadhyay in a court located in Bhopal. After verification, the police found this claim to be false and unsupported by any factual evidence. Their investigation confirmed that no such case was pending in any Bhopal court against the BJP MLA.
Connection to an Election Petition
The complaint further elaborated on a related judicial matter. It alleged that Bharti had previously filed what was termed a "frivolous election petition" before the High Court of Delhi. In this petition, Bharti reportedly accused Upadhyay of failing to disclose a supposed pending criminal case from Bhopal in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India.
However, the police highlighted a critical point. Even before this election petition was scheduled for a hearing in court, Somnath Bharti posted a tweet on the platform X (formerly Twitter). In this tweet, he shared an image of what has been described as a "forged and fabricated criminal complaint." This document was presented as a complaint filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), citing charges of criminal defamation and forgery.
Potential Repercussions and Next Steps
The registration of this case by the Bhopal Crime Branch marks a significant escalation, moving the dispute from social media and political rhetoric into the formal legal arena. Charges of criminal defamation and forgery carry substantial legal weight. The development is likely to have political ramifications, drawing attention to the conduct of political figures on digital platforms. The investigation will now proceed to gather further evidence, and Bharti is expected to be summoned for questioning as part of the standard legal procedure.
