Beed, Maharashtra –

A case has been registered against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rupali Patil Thombare and seven others at the Shivaji Nagar Police Station in Beed. The accused are alleged to have created and circulated fake WhatsApp chats attributed to Maharashtra MLA Jitendra Awhad, with the intention of defaming him.

According to the complaint filed by Mohsin Azad Sheikh, the fake chats contained instructions to gather support from Muslims and Dalits for a morcha, and to not worry about expenses. Awhad has denied the authenticity of these chats and filed a complaint with the police.

The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Further investigation is underway.