New Delhi: Senior Tamil Nadu BJP leader K.T. Raghavan on Tuesday quit as the party's state general secretary after an explicit video call, purportedly involving him and an unknown woman, was released on social media by YouTuber and party member Madan Ravichandran.

Raghavan, who announced his resignation on Twitter, denied his involvement in the video.

According to Hindustan Times, Ravichandran claimed the video is part of a "sting operation" to probe allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation against BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu. He has video evidence against 15 party leaders, the YouTuber claimed.

The face of the woman in the video was blurred and her voice muted because she "agreed to join the operation in public interest".

The Wire has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the video or Ravichandran's claims.

The video has caused an outrage in Tamil Nadu,with Congress MP S. Jothimani, accompanied by Congress Legislature Party Leader K. Selvaperunthagai, filing a complaint with DGP C. Sylendra Babu. They demanded Raghavan's arrest.

Raghavn said the video was aimed at tarnishing his image and also that of the party. After learning about the video, he conferred with BJP's Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai and resigned.

Later, Annamalai announced the constitution of a panel to probe sexual allegations against party members and said Raghavan will prove his "innocence."

The party chief said that he had ordered the constitution of a committee under BJP state secretary Malarkody to probe the allegations. "Women in our party are held in esteem and they are safe," Annamalai said.

He said he had accepted the resignation of Raghavan from the party post and also confirmed that Ravichandran had called on him twice, pressing for action against Raghavan.

"The YouTuber met me twice at my office and claimed he had evidence against Raghavan and demanded action be taken against him," Annamalai explained. Asking the YouTuber to furnish proof, he had said arbitrary action cannot be initiated without incriminating evidence.

"He later called me and sought action. I insisted on submission of evidence," Annamalai said, according to news agency PTI.

"When he said he would release the video, I tersely replied 'go ahead'," Annamalai said in a statement, recalling the conversation the YouTuber had with him recently.

On Ravichandran's claim that he had videos involving many BJP leaders, Annamalai said, "This only raises suspicion over his intention, which is highly condemnable."

Referring to the controversial video, Raghavan claimed "it has been released to tarnish my image and that of my party."

"Today, I met the state president Annamalai and consulted him. I resign from all my party responsibilities. I deny the allegations. I will face it legally. Dharma will win!" he said on his Twitter handle.

According to The News Minute, the purported video of Raghavan comes after Tamil daily Dinamalar had published an article in June which said that the BJP state unit had received several complaints of sexual harassment against its leaders. The BJP dismissed the article and issued a legal notice to the newspaper.

(With PTI inputs)

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