Influencer forced to do sit-ups, bow before Raj Thackeray's pic over reel mocking him

MNS workers in Pune forced social media influencer Mahesh Mote to apologise over personal remarks about party chief Raj Thackeray in one of the reels. A video of Mote prostrating and doing sit-ups, along with a blackened face, has gone viral on social media.

In Short

• Mahesh Mote taken to MNS office by party workers for mocking Raj Thackeray in reel
• Video shows Mote prostrating before Raj Thackeray's pic and apologising
• MNS workers blacken Mote's face and make him do sit-ups with slippers

A social media influencer in Pune was forced to do sit-ups and bow before a photograph of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray after party workers accused him of making obscene and personal remarks about him in a reel.

MNS leaders said influencer Mahesh Mote was caught by party workers and taken to the party's office of Hadapsar sub-division president Shubham Jagdale. A video shows Mote being made to prostrate before a photograph of MNS chief Raj Thackeray and apologising for his remarks.

The MNS workers also smeared black ink on his face and made him perform sit-ups with slippers placed on his head. The video of Mote's 'punishment' has since gone viral on social media.

However, the party did not provide details of the specific remarks that Mote made in the reel against Raj Thackeray.

Sainath Babar, MNS Pune City president, told India Today TV that Mote had made “objectionable reels and personal comments” about Raj Thackeray.

“He had made objectionable reels and personal comments about Raj Thackeray. If he wants to record reels, he can do so, but he must avoid making personal comments about our leader,” Babar said.

No police complaint has been filed in connection with the incident so far.

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