UP councillors vow to split ill-gotten funds in video
A video shows Shahjahanpur councillors swearing on holy texts. They allegedly promised to divide illegally obtained civic body revenue equally. Municipal commissioner Saumya Gurjar has ordered an investigation into the matter. Opposition parties have condemned the alleged corruption shown in the clip. The authenticity of the video has not yet been independently verified.
Shahjahanpur municipal corporation councillors have vowed to split illegally acquired funds from the civic body equally among themselves in a controversial video. The video shows councillors holding holy water and swearing on the Gangajal and Quran, promising to divide "batwara" (division) and allocate shares fairly. Municipal Commissioner Saumya Gurjar has taken notice of the video and has ordered a team to investigate the matter.
Out of the 60 councillors, 41 are from the BJP and the rest are from various parties or are independents.
Dhirendra Singh Chauhan, a BJP councillor, denied any wrongdoing. He explained that the oath had nothing to do with revenues, as councillors had gathered at a birthday party in 2025, and the video was recorded after 40 councillors complained about a company working with the municipal corporation. Chauhan stated that everyone vowed not to issue any documents in favor of the company in the future, and the video's context was altered before it was leaked online.
Opposition parties condemned the video as evidence of corruption. The INC UP and the Congress party's X handle tweeted that it showed how corruption was assured under political patronage, making public development pointless. The Samajwadi Party also posted on X, stating that the councillors swore to share the proceeds of corruption and support each other in case of a scandal. TOI has not independently verified the video's authenticity, and the municipal corporation has not yet issued an official statement on its contents.
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