KOLKATA: Suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir has acknowledged that a video released by the party – purportedly showing him seeking Rs 1,000 crore from BJP and calling Muslims “gullible” – is authentic but alleged it was selectively edited from a 51-minute recording. The admission has handed Trinamool fresh ammunition against BJP ahead of Bengal polls after PM Narendra Modi’s comment on TMC circulating AI-generated clips. “The video is true, but only 19 minutes of a 51-minute conversation have been shown. I was speaking to two persons – one claimed to be a sadhu from Siliguri, the other a journalist from Delhi. I have the full video to support my claims,” Kabir said. He alleged that TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee had orchestrated a sting operation, sending a man “disguised as a maharaj” and a Delhi-based journalist to entrap him. The 19-minute clip, titled ‘The Reality of HK’, has not been independently verified. “I will identify them and take legal action. I have six lawyers ready,” he said, adding the recording took place at his Berhampore flat on Dec 19, 2025. “There is no footage showing me meeting any BJP member – not Modi, not Shah,” he said. TMC was quick to use the admission to target BJP. “When Kabir himself has said the video is real, why did the PM call it AI-generated?” a party functionary asked. CM Mamata Banerjee seized on the admission. “You are seeing how a Rs 1,000 crore deal has been made to divide Hindus and Muslims. The person in the video is saying it is real – how will this be covered up now?” she asked at a rally in Bankura’s Onda. The controversy has already claimed political casualties. AIMIM snapped its alliance with Kabir’s AUJP within a day of the video surfacing, saying it “cannot associate with statements where the integrity of Muslims is questioned” and announcing it would contest the Bengal elections independently. The alliance, announced weeks earlier, had envisaged AJUP contesting 182 of Bengal’s 294 seats and AIMIM 17.About the AuthorTamaghna BanerjeeTamaghna Banerjee, a reporter from Kolkata, covers crime, aviation, human rights and politics. He has a keen interest in human interest and rural reporting. He has done his postgraduation in journalism and mass communication. He has a total of 14 years in journalism.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosUS-Iran Deal HITS DEAD END, Trump SHIFTS TO Pakistan Praise, Replays India-Pak War ClaimMEA Slams China’s ‘Mischievous Attempts’, Rejects Fictitious Names to Arunachal Pradesh LocationsUAE Visit: Jaishankar Conveys PM Modi’s Thanks, Highlights India’s Role In Regional StabilityMobile Internet Ban Extended After CRPF Firing Shocker That Killed ProtestersSwami Vivekananda’s First-Ever Life-Size Statue Unveiled In Seattle, US‘Had Great Difficulty’: Stranded Indian Fishermen In Iran Return Home Via Armenia‘India Is New Engine Of Globalisation, Becoming Attractive Investment Hub’: Former WEF DirectorJaishankar Meets UAE FM In Abu Dhabi, Discusses West Asia Situation And Strategic Partnership”Don’t Assume It’s Over” Rajnath Cautions On West Asia ConflictJag Vikram Leads Way, First Indian Ship Through Hormuz Post Ceasefire123PhotostoriesBest non-American sitcoms of all time: ‘Derry Girls’, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and more10 dishes that make lentils feel anything but ordinarySaas-bahu relationships on Indian TV that were actually wholesome: Devyani-Simar, Sudha-Parvati and more7 iconic breakfasts people eat around the world5 best fantasy dramas to watch on Hulu: From ‘Outlander’ to ‘Attack on Titan’Life lessons hidden in your favourite TV sitcoms: ‘Friends’, ‘The Office’ and moreMumbai’s top 5 residential buildings redefining luxury and premium livingBefore your blood tests turn abnormal: 6 silent heart warning signs you’re missing, and how to fix them earlyTop temples in India to visit believed to bring wealth and prosperityAsha Bhosle passes away at 92: Ode to the voice behind generations of Bollywood’s divas, from Madhubala to Karisma Kapoor123Hot PicksIran war ceasefirePAN Card application 2026Purple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingAndhra Pradesh Girl MurderUS Iran talksMI vs RCB Today IPL MatchBadminton Championships FinalPune tempatureTS Inter 1st 2nd Year Result 2026Asha BhosleSara TendulkarSchool Holidays in AprilAyush Shetty
KOLKATA: Suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir has acknowledged that a video released by the party – purportedly showing him seeking Rs 1,000 crore from BJP and calling Muslims “gullible” – is authentic but alleged it was selectively edited from a 51-minute recording. The admission has handed Trinamool fresh ammunition against BJP ahead of Bengal polls after PM Narendra Modi’s comment on TMC circulating AI-generated clips. “The video is true, but only 19 minutes of a 51-minute conversation have been shown. I was speaking to two persons – one claimed to be a sadhu from Siliguri, the other a journalist from Delhi. I have the full video to support my claims,” Kabir said. He alleged that TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee had orchestrated a sting operation, sending a man “disguised as a maharaj” and a Delhi-based journalist to entrap him. The 19-minute clip, titled ‘The Reality of HK’, has not been independently verified. “I will identify them and take legal action. I have six lawyers ready,” he said, adding the recording took place at his Berhampore flat on Dec 19, 2025. “There is no footage showing me meeting any BJP member – not Modi, not Shah,” he said. TMC was quick to use the admission to target BJP. “When Kabir himself has said the video is real, why did the PM call it AI-generated?” a party functionary asked. CM Mamata Banerjee seized on the admission. “You are seeing how a Rs 1,000 crore deal has been made to divide Hindus and Muslims. The person in the video is saying it is real – how will this be covered up now?” she asked at a rally in Bankura’s Onda. The controversy has already claimed political casualties. AIMIM snapped its alliance with Kabir’s AUJP within a day of the video surfacing, saying it “cannot associate with statements where the integrity of Muslims is questioned” and announcing it would contest the Bengal elections independently. The alliance, announced weeks earlier, had envisaged AJUP contesting 182 of Bengal’s 294 seats and AIMIM 17.
