Rajasthan MLA Ritu Banawat Demands Answers After Deepfake Accused Honored on Republic Day
Independent MLA from Bayana constituency, Ritu Banawat, expressed outrage on Thursday and demanded that the Rajasthan state government explain why a man accused of creating an obscene deepfake video of her was honored in Barmer during the 77th Republic Day celebrations for outstanding work.
MLA's Complaint and Police Action
Speaking to the media on the assembly premises, Banawat revealed that she, along with other independent MLAs, had filed a formal complaint about the fake video with Additional Director General of Police Dinesh MN. She also wrote to the Assembly Speaker regarding the matter.
Following these actions, police arrested some accused individuals who were subsequently jailed. However, the main accused, Dinesh Manju, a resident of Barmer, remained at large despite multiple police raids on his known locations.
Distressing Republic Day Development
Banawat shared a particularly distressing development: the main accused was honored in Barmer on Republic Day for outstanding work. She demanded to know on whose recommendation a person accused of creating a defamatory deepfake video of a woman MLA received such recognition.
If this can happen to a woman MLA, how easily must the voice of a common woman be suppressed? Are women still being taken lightly in this country? she questioned, seeking answers from both the state government and Barmer district administration.
MLA's Vow and Government Response
Banawat vowed not to remain silent on this issue. I will not let anyone hurt my self-respect. I want an answer through the House and from the government: on whose recommendation was that guilty person honored? she declared.
Following Banawat's charges, the Barmer district administration issued an order late Thursday night withdrawing the district-level award given to Manju. District Collector Tina Dabi explained that Manju had applied for consideration based on his work in wildlife conservation and environmental protection, and was honored on the recommendation of a district-level committee.
Administrative Action and Investigation
Dabi stated that the award was withdrawn with immediate effect after authorities learned that a police case had been registered against him. She also announced that departmental action was being initiated against concerned officials for failing to present the police case report to the district-level committee.
Action will be taken against personnel who recommended Manju without verifying his antecedents with the police, Dabi confirmed, highlighting procedural lapses in the award selection process.
