A politician from India who is currently embroiled in a gay sex scandal says he’s the target of a smear campaign.
This week, Arvind Limbavali wept before colleagues in New Delhi Legislative Assembly, claiming he was the victim of a “fake gay sex video” as part of a larger political effort to bring him down.
The video first began circulating on Facebook and WhatsApp about 10 days ago and allegedly features Limbavali engaging in a sex act with another man.
“It is hard to even imagine such a situation where your family has been traumatized,” a teary-eyed Limbavali told the parliament on Monday. “Only I know what my children are facing because of this defamatory video.”
He then implied that he is the victim of some sort of conspiracy, though he didn’t elaborate on who he believed was out to get him.
“People are taking to devious ways to stop us,” he said. “Please order a probe.”
Another one of Limbavali’s colleagues, KM Shivalingegowda, told the parliament that he, too, believed certain legislators were being publicly “shamed” with fake x-rated videos.
Limbavali’s request for a probe was denied, and he was instead instructed by the house leader not to be “so emotional” about everything.
The deputy police commissioner MN Anucheth, however, says two police investigations have been launched.
“Efforts are on to trace the miscreants who uploaded or circulated the alleged video on social media,” he says.
