‘BJP leader’ booked for beating woman in M.P.; video goes viral

A case has been registered against an alleged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader for beating a woman in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district, police said on Monday (February 9, 2026).

According to the police, the incident took place around 10.30 am on Sunday, February 8, 2026, on a vegetable stall in Bhanwaar village in Bahri police station area.

Arvind Shrivastava, Additional Superintendent of Police, Sidhi, said: Hindu It was stated that an FIR was lodged against the two men (Santosh Pathak and Rahul Dwivedi) who escaped shortly after the incident. The duo was charged under Sections 296(b), 115(2) and 351(3) of the BNS.

viral video

The video of the incident, in which Mr. Pathak allegedly punches and kicks Hema Singh and beats her with a stick, also went viral on the internet.

Sharing the video on X, Congress said, “Madhya Pradesh’s Forest Raj. This is BJP leader Santosh Pathak, who brutally beat up a woman in the middle of the road. On the one hand, Narendra Modi constantly pontificates on the dignity of women on the election floor; On the other hand, BJP leaders are shattering the dignity of women.”

“But this is not the first time. Such instances are constantly being reported; power-hungry BJP leaders are seen committing atrocities against women. This is the true nature of the BJP,” the opposition party said, seeking to know whether the BJP government would act against Mr. Pathak.

Mr Shrivastava, however, denied that the accused was affiliated with any political party and said it was a case of “sudden provocation”.

“The FIR was filed an hour after the incident. The accused are currently on the run, but we have teams looking for them,” he said.

According to the FIR, Ms. Singh alleged that Mr. Dwivedi threatened her by warning her not to place her stall at the place which she claimed belonged to Mr. Pathak. He claimed Mr Pathak arrived at the scene a short time later and the two men began abusing and assaulting him.