A significant controversy has erupted in Haridwar, leading to the filing of a formal police complaint against an expelled BJP legislator and a woman for allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign against a senior party leader. The case centers on a fabricated audio clip intended to damage the reputation of BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam.
Complaint Alleges Deliberate Defamation
On Thursday, Dharmendra Kumar, the general secretary of the Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Akhada, lodged a detailed complaint with the police. The complaint names expelled BJP MLA Suresh Rathore and a woman named Urmila Sanawar, who claims to be the legislator's wife. Kumar accused the duo of recording and then circulating a manipulated audio clip containing false allegations.
He asserted that the clip was maliciously linked to the Rishikesh resort murder case with the sole purpose of tarnishing the public image and reputation of Dushyant Kumar Gautam. Kumar claimed that Rathore harbored personal animosity towards Gautam, which motivated the act.
"Our leader, Dushyant Kumar, has been working consistently for the welfare of the Dalit community," Kumar told the media. "We have demanded strict action against both the accused." The police have since registered a case and initiated an investigation.
A Web of Accusations and a Second FIR
This incident is not isolated and forms part of a broader, contentious dispute. Notably, this is the second FIR lodged against Rathore and Sanawar in connection with this controversy. Just a day earlier, on Wednesday, former zilla panchayat member and BJP leader Arti Gaur filed a separate police complaint against the same individuals.
Gaur's complaint alleged that Urmila Sanawar had shared an audio clip of a purported telephonic conversation between herself and Suresh Rathore on social media. In that recording, the two were allegedly heard using abusive language against Gaur. They further accused her of 'removing evidence from the Rishikesh resort' to protect the accused and a VIP guest involved in the murder case.
Sub-inspector Sanjeet Kumar, who is investigating the case stemming from Gaur's complaint, confirmed that a case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police Investigation and Conflicting Narratives
The Haridwar police are now actively examining evidence from both complaints. SP (City) Abhay Singh stated that a case has been registered against Suresh Rathore and Urmila Sanawar based on the initial complaint. "All related evidence, including audio recordings, is being collected and examined," he informed.
Amidst these allegations, Suresh Rathore presented his side of the story during a press conference on Wednesday. He attempted to address the unfolding events and placed the responsibility for the audio clip controversy squarely on Urmila Sanawar.
The situation remains fluid as police investigations proceed on dual fronts. The core allegations involve the creation and dissemination of fabricated audio content to settle personal scores and damage the reputations of political figures, intertwining with the sensitive Rishikesh resort murder case. The outcomes of the police probe are keenly awaited.
