A BJP member of the Legislative Council from Karnataka allegedly shared several pornographic photographs in an official WhatsApp group that was intended for sharing information between government officers and the media. More than 50 images of nude women were posted from his number on the WhatsApp group “Belagavi media force.”
Sharing offensive content on social media is against the law in India.
According to PTI, Mahantesh Kavatagimath apologized for posting the photos, saying it was an “unintentional act.”
According to NDTV, many shocked members left the group, while others openly condemned the lawmaker. Kavatagimath was later removed from the group.
“The content was posted accidentally when my phone hanged while switching off, I guess. At that time I was traveling by flight. I apologize for the incident. It was not intentional,” he was quoted as saying.
It is not the first time a Karnataka lawmaker has publicly disgraced himself. In 2012, CC Patil, Lakshmana Savadi and Krishna Palemar were caught watching pornography in the Assembly hall. They were forced to tender their resignations by the BJP’s central leadership.