An audio clip of a purported conversation between a leader of the ruling BJP's youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and a police officer in Madhya Pradesh's Seoni has kicked up a political storm. In the audio clip that has now gone viral, BJYM leader Mayur Dubey can allegedly be heard conniving with Kanhiwada police station in-charge Omeshwar Thakre to frame activists of a Hindu organisation.
Dubey allegedly discusses cooking up a story to trap his rival for "doing wrong in the name of Hindutva". He is also heard in the audio talking about funding and executing a plan to trap him by using inter-state cow smugglers as pawns.
Dubey can allegedly be heard saying, "We will give money, bear all the expenses… send a WhatsApp message on your personal number, the car should not stop anywhere… this is advance, the rest in cash… later, we will drag and beat up those who complained against you or me."
In a second clip, police officers are purportedly heard telling Dubey that senior Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leaders have been informed about the suspicious activities of some individuals, especially Madhav Dubey and Deepak Yadav, who are associated with Hindu organisations.
Moneycontrol Hindi does not confirm the authenticity of the audio clip, but the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Seoni has confirmed that action has been taken.
He said, "I came to know about the matter on Saturday morning. An inquiry has been ordered under the leadership of ASP (Assistant Superintendent of Police) to verify the audio. The station in-charge has been removed to ensure fairness."
The purported audio hints at a rift within the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and other Hindu organisations like the Gau Rakshak Brigade and alleges collusion between the police and cow smugglers.
Seoni is the main route for cow smuggling from Madhya Pradesh to Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Telangana. Last year, it witnessed the highest number of cow smuggling cases in Madhya Pradesh, with over 55 cases, 99 arrests and over 1,300 animals seized.
In June 2024, mutilated carcasses of 54 cows were found in local forests, leading to widespread unrest and the removal of the district collector and a senior police officer. In 2022, two tribal people were killed by cow protectors in Kurai area of Seoni.
