Pimpri: A controversy has erupted in Talegaon Dabhade after tampered photos of Santosh Chhaburao Bhegde, the city president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and a member of the Metropolitan Planning Committee, were circulated on social media, leading to allegations of defamation.

The incident came to light last week when Bhegde discovered that his images had been manipulated in a manner that portrayed him negatively.

In response to the incident, Bhegde lodged a formal complaint with the Talegaon Police Station, citing a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation.

Following the complaint, the police registered an FIR against several individuals, including Narayan Malpote, Atul Marathe, Kishor Sawant, Akshay Dhamankar, Bharat Yewale, and Prashant Ashokrao Jambhale.

The charges filed are non-cognizable offenses, which typically involve actions that are less serious but still warrant police attention.

Santosh Bhegde, who has served as a municipal councilor for the Talegaon Municipal Council for over a decade, also holds a position as a member of the Pune Metropolitan Planning Committee.

In a statement, Bhegde alleged that the smear campaign was orchestrated by supporters of a local MLA, aiming to tarnish his social image and undermine his standing within the community.

“The actions taken against me appear to be a calculated effort to harm my social, political, and economic stature,” Bhegde stated. He further demanded strict legal action against those responsible, emphasizing the impact of such defamatory acts on public figures and the need for accountability.

While the accused are yet to provide their statements, the investigation is ongoing, and authorities are exploring the extent of the damage caused by the defamatory content.