The social media leader of India’s opposition Congress party has been arrested on charges of misleadingly doctoring a widely shared video during an ongoing national election, authorities said Saturday.
Arun Reddy was arrested late Friday in connection with the edited video, which falsely depicts India’s strong interior minister Amit Shah swearing in a campaign address to remove affirmative action policies for millions of poor and low-caste Indians.
Shah is often considered to as India’s second-most powerful man after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the two have been close political partners for decades.
Hemant Tiwari, deputy commissioner of Delhi police, stated that Reddy was arrested yesterday for allegedly doctoring a video of the home minister.
“We produced him in the court and he is in police custody.”
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed confirmed Reddy’s arrest to AFP but denied he was responsible for creating or publishing the clip.
“He is not involved in any doctored video. We are supporting him,” she said.