BJP’s Manohar Lal Dhakad gets bail in leaked video case

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Madhya Pradesh, Manohar Lal Dhakad, who was allegedly caught on camera engaging in a compromising act with a woman on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near Mandsaur, was granted bail on Saturday. He had been arrested in connection with the case on May 26.

According to News18, Dhakad was reportedly seen in a sexual act with an unidentified woman. The video, which later went viral on social media platforms in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, appeared to show the pair dancing and engaging in an obscene act on the expressway.

As soon as the video went viral, police registered a case against Dhakad, and he was taken into custody.

As reported by The Times of India, the case was filed under sections 296 (obscene acts and songs in public places), 285 (danger or obstruction in a public way or line of navigation), and 3(5) (collective crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Bhanpura police station on May 23.

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The footage, captured by CCTV cameras along the expressway, allegedly shows Dhakad in a compromising situation with the woman outside a car.

The woman seen in the footage has not been arrested so far. RC Dangi, the investigating officer and in-charge of Bhanpura police station, told IANS: “We need to conduct a thorough investigation before deciding what legal action can be taken against her. If more people were involved, we will include additional provisions under the BNS.”

Police also raided Dhakad’s residence in Bani village on the same night and seized the car seen in the footage, although Dhakad was not found at the premises.

BJP Says Dhakad Not a ‘Primary Member’

Following the incident, the BJP clarified that Dhakad was not a permanent or primary member of the party.

The Yuva Mahasabha organisation, with which Dhakad was affiliated, expelled him from the post of national general secretary after the video surfaced. Amid speculation over his ties with the BJP, the party denied any formal association.

BJP district president Rajesh Dixit stated that Dhakad was not a primary member. Former legislator from Mandsaur and BJP spokesperson Yashpal Singh Sisodiya called the act “highly objectionable and shameful,” adding: “He is not even a primary member of the BJP. However, anyone can technically join the party by giving a ‘missed call’ to a designated mobile number.”

The party also clarified that Dhakad had not been assigned any official responsibilities. Notably, his wife is currently a member of the Gram Panchayat in Mandsaur district.