'Unconditional' apology, black ink, sit-ups': What happened to influencer over Raj Thackeray reel

A social media influencer in Pune was allegedly detained by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers and made to apologise over a reel that the party claimed mocked its chief Raj Thackeray.

Mahesh Mote was allegedly taken to an MNS office in Katraj, where workers made him prostrate before a photograph of Raj Thackeray. He was also made to sit through a series of humiliating acts, including having black ink smeared on his face and performing sit-ups with slippers placed on his head. A video of the incident and Mote’s subsequent apology was released.

In the apology video, Mote, visibly emotional, folded his hands and sought an "unconditional" apology from Raj Thackeray and MNS workers.

"I inadvertently said something wrong about Raj Saheb, and I also mistakenly spoke inappropriately about Shubham Dada and other MNS office-bearers. Today, I deeply regret my mistake. Because of this reel, I have found myself in this predicament. I sincerely apologise to the MNS party and to all of you," Mote said.

What MNS said about the reel

Shubham Jagdale, MNS sub-divisional president for the Hadapsar Assembly constituency, alleged that Mote had used extremely abusive language about Raj Thackeray in a video posted around 15 days earlier.

According to Jagdale, Mote had been in Kerala for around 15-20 days. After learning that he had returned to Pune and was in the Katraj area, MNS workers allegedly located him at a park and took him to the party’s public relations office.

Jagdale described what happened at the office as 'Mahaprasad', a term he used for the MNS's reported response to the reel.

‘MNS style’ warning

Jagdale later described the action as "MNS style" and said people who make such remarks about Raj Thackeray would face a similar response.

"We brought him to our office and made him lie down before a portrait of the respected Raj Saheb Thackeray and demanded an apology. In true MNS style, we gave him a fitting reply in our own language - something you might even call 'Mahaprasad'. I believe that if anyone makes such remarks against Raj Saheb Thackeray, MNS will respond in exactly this manner," the MNS leader stated.

The incident has drawn attention after videos showing Mote’s treatment and his emotional apology surfaced online.