A recent viral video, involving Manohar Lal Dhakad, a politician from Madhya Pradesh, has caused a massive uproar across India and intense conversations across the internet. The video, from the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, has already resulted in legal and political consequences, but has also initiated extensive discourse about privacy, ethics, and the accountability of public officials.
Incident Overview
On May 13, 2025, CCTV cameras at a toll booth on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway caught Manohar Lal Dhakad in a “compromising position” with a woman outside a car, apparently, participating in an obscene act. The video began to make its rounds on social media starting on or about May 22, going viral and grabbing everyone’s attention. The video triggered immediate action on the part of law enforcement since Dhakad was arrested on May 25, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including section 296 (obscene acts in public), section 285 (endangering life or personal safety of others or obstruction on public roads), and section 3(5) (concerning joint criminal liability).
Legal and Political Repercussions
The video became viral, and the authorities were forced to act. A case was registered against Dhakad at the Bhanpura Police Station in Mandsaur district and Dhakad was arrested shortly after. Although there were serious charges, they were feeble enough to allow him to be freed on bail within 24 hours. The BJP party was the original target of the backlash, citing Dhakad’s association and wanted to distance itself from the controversy, stating that Dhakad was not a key member of the party.
Besides the legal consequences, there were additional ramifications also. Dhakad lost his role as National Minister of the Youth Association of Dhakad Samaj and was severely disgraced socially. Complicating matters even more, it was found later that his wife, Sohan Bai, is the sarpanch (head of the village) and a member of the district panchayat giving a political background of the family.
Blackmail and Video Leak
A surprising turn in the case came when news emerged that the viral video was leaked as the result of a blackmail. Employees of MKC Infrastructure Company, which has a contract with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), were implicated. Dhakad claimed the employees required Rs 1 lakh to keep the video from going public, but after Dhakad gave Rs 20,000 and refused to pay the full amount, the video appeared online. Three employees of the firm were dismissed for leaking the video.
Viral Aftermath and Social Media Reactions
The video quickly spread across social media. In a matter of hours, influential users from X (formerly twitter) and beyond were sharing the video with their own commentary, propelling their speculation of the identities of thoe involved. Soon after, a second video emerged that purportedly showed Dhakad dancing with the same woman on the expressway; this further drove the controversy.
In addition to the videos, one of the more widely circulated videos was of a wailing woman claiming mistreatment by police and claiming that police had made threats to her family. Some users connected this video to the original highway incident, and it was further reported that this may be another victim of police misconduct. Despite the speculation that the woman in the wailing video may have been the woman dancing with Dhakad, reconciliation clearly led to the conclusion that this distance was substantial, and the woman in the wailing video and the woman in the original highway video were different. Despite this conclusion, the video was further circulated with misleading frames, demonstrating yet again the way in which misinformation will proliferate in an intense digital environment.
Dhakad’s Response
Manohar Lal Dhakad has been released on bail and has openly disputed the allegations against him, claiming the viral video was fake and that he was not the person in the video. He says that the car shown in the video was not his and stated: “I had sold the car. The truth will come out once the authenticity of the video is investigated. I will very strongly put forward my case in court and will file a defamation case against those who made the video go viral”. Dhakad went on to explain why he had avoided the public glare following the incident because he was scared for his reputation and the police had taken his car for investigation.
Public and Political Impact
The matter has raised very serious issues in public discourse not only in Madhya Pradesh but across India on the integrity of public officials, the morality of making sensitive material available for public consumption, as well as the responsibilities for those who manage these surveillance systems. The BJP’s attempt to distance itself from Dhakad underscores the sensitive nature of political scandals that affect huge numbers of voters at a time when anything can go viral and shape opinions overnight.
More sinister issues regarding digital/online surveillance and privacy violations have also arisen in this case. The fact that employees responsible for the safety of patrons on a highway reportedly utilized CCTV footage for extortion purposes purely for personal gain has rightly raised serious calls for stricter scrutiny and accountability in the management of surveillance systems.
Conclusion
The Manohar Lal Dhakad viral highway clip is a rich narrative of individual conduct, political fallout, blackmail, and the power of new media. While the judicial process is ongoing and the authenticity of the video is being doubted, the incident cautions us about the intersection of privacy, technology, and public life in contemporary India.
As the investigation unfolds, the case will likely remain a subject of debate regarding privacy rights, what public figures ought to do, and how to employ surveillance technology responsibly. Largely for the time being, the Manohar Lal highway video is among the most talked-about viral incidents of 2025, demonstrating the ability and risk of an extremely networked society.
