Probe launched into Himachal Congress leader video case

A case has been registered relating to a video CD, which is currently in circulation, portraying a senior Congress leader from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi town with a woman, police said Sunday.

A deputy superintendent of police-rank officer of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) will conduct the investigation to find out its origin and those behind its distribution, Additional Director General S.R. Mardi told IANS.

A case under sections 292 (circulation of obscene material), 465 (forgery), 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the Indian Penal Code, section 6 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act of 1986, and sections 66-E and 67-A of the Information Technology Act was registered Saturday, he said.

The video CD, allegedly featuring a few minutes' clip of the leader with a woman, was released in Mandi June 13.

The complaint says the video, which features a look-alike of the senior leader, was released with the intention to defame him during the Mandi Lok Sabha by-poll slated for June 23.

Official sources said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has directed the police to hand over the probe to the CID.

The Mandi parliamentary seat was represented by Virbhadra Singh until he resigned following his election to the state assembly in December last year and his taking over the reins of the state.