SHAHJAHANPUR: BJP councillors from the Shahjahanpur Municipal Corporation have claimed that a viral video purportedly showing them taking an oath to distribute corruption proceeds equally among themselves is an old recording that has been edited and circulated to damage their reputation.The development comes after the video was circulated on various social media platforms on Tuesday, prompting the BJP’s city unit to issue notices to around 10 councillors and seek their responses within three days.BJP Shahjahanpur city unit president Shilpi Gupta told PTI on Sunday that seven councillors had submitted their replies by Saturday night, while three councillors featured in the video, who are husbands of other councillors, did not receive notices.According to Gupta, the councillors said in their replies that the video is around a year old and was recorded during a meeting of councillors at a hotel, news agency PTI reported.They claimed that such meetings are regularly held to discuss development projects in their respective wards, she said.The councillors said the meeting was held to review development works being carried out by East Mark company and discuss the distribution of funds received from the State Finance Commission for municipal development, she said.“They maintained that the intention was to distribute the funds received for development equally among all wards,” Gupta said.The BJP leader said the councillors alleged that portions of the video had been edited and circulated with the intention of damaging the image of BJP-affiliated councillors.She noted that councillors from different political parties were also present at the meeting.Gupta said the party is currently examining the viral video to determine whether it has been edited or manipulated, PTI reported.“If the video is found to have been manipulated, the matter will be placed before the core committee, which will take a decision. Legal action will also be taken against whoever is found responsible,” she said.The controversy emerged after the video featuring the BJP-affiliated councillors gained traction on social media.Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Congress, have criticised the BJP over the issue.In response, the BJP metropolitan unit and the mayor have issued notices related to the matter.Nominated councillor Poonam Mehrotra, apparently distressed by the controversy, submitted her resignation to the municipal commissioner.Municipal commissioner Gurbani had earlier stated that the video was recorded in November 2025, when a different officer was serving as municipal commissioner.Shahjahanpur district magistrate Dharmendra Pratap Singh had also told PTI that he had not received any formal complaint in the matter.“If a complaint is received, the entire matter will be investigated,” Singh had said.(With agency inputs)
