New Delhi: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers allegedly assaulted and publicly humiliated social media influencer Mahesh Mote over a reel that they claimed
contained abusive remarks about party chief Raj Thackeray.
Videos released by the MNS workers showed Mote with black ink smeared across his face. He was forced to prostrate before a photograph of Thackeray and perform sit-ups with slippers placed on his head.
The workers also made him record an apology video. Mote appeared frightened and broke down in tears while apologising to the MNS and its office-bearers.
Influencer issues apology
“I inadvertently said something wrong about Raj Saheb, and I also mistakenly spoke inappropriately about Shubham Dada and other MNS office-bearers. Today, I deeply regret my mistake. Because of this reel, I have found myself in this predicament. I sincerely apologise to the MNS party and to all of you,” Mote said in the video.
Shubham Jagdale, the MNS sub-divisional president for the Hadapsar Assembly constituency, accused Mote of using highly abusive language against Thackeray in a video posted around 15 days ago.
Workers track influencer
Mote had reportedly stayed in Kerala for the past 15 to 20 days. MNS workers learnt about his return to Pune and located him in the Katraj area.
They allegedly apprehended him at a park in Katraj before taking him to the party’s public relations office. The humiliation and forced apology reportedly took place at the office.
Jagdale said Mote was given “Mahaprasad”, a term he used to describe the rough treatment allegedly meted out to the influencer.
Leader defends action
Jagdale later described the incident as “MNS style” and warned that anyone who insulted Thackeray would face a similar response.
“We brought him to our office and made him lie down before a portrait of the respected Raj Saheb Thackeray and demanded an apology. In true MNS style, we gave him a fitting reply in our own language – something you might even call ‘Mahaprasad’. I believe that if anyone makes such remarks against Raj Saheb Thackeray, MNS will respond in exactly this manner,” the MNS leader stated.
There was no immediate information about any police complaint or action over the incident.
