New Delhi: More than 30 Bollywood celebrities, including Jackie Shroff, Kailash Kher and Vivek Oberoi, have allegedly been caught in a sting operation for agreeing to promote the agenda of parties on social media platforms in exchange for money, online portal Cobrapost claimed on Tuesday.
Operation Karaoke by Cobrapost had its reporters posing as representatives from a public relations company and meeting actors, singers, dancers and TV stars through their managers to allegedly strike a deal ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a press conference here, Cobrapost editor-in-chief Aniruddha Bahl said the sting revolves around 36 celebrities agreeing to post messages on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts to help create a favourable environment for certain political parties in the run up to the elections.
The celebs, most of them second rung TV and film stars, agreed to tweet content on various issues to be provided to them before posting the same on their social media pages to make it look as their own, he alleged.
“They would defend the government even on controversial issues such as rape and fatal accidents such as bridge collapses. They were even willing to sign a dummy contract for endorsement of products to disguise the real nature of the proxy political campaigning that they were willing to do,” Bahl said.
According to Cobrapost, the party in question was, in most cases, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Congress in some instances.
Many celebrities agreed to share their PAN number and banking details but most preferred cash, he claimed.
The media portal has put out a series of tweets with videos of the celebrities caught in the sting.
According to Cobrapost, most of the celebrities did not blink an eye before saying �Aye� to the proposition, asking for a fee ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 50 lakh per message.
“Some even quoted a fee of Rs 20 crore for an eight-month contract, and almost none of them said no to black money when we told them a bulk of their fee would be paid in cash,” the outlet claimed.
Representing a fictitious PR agency and taking on aliases, Cobrapost reporters approached these celebrities asking if they would be willing to promote a political party discreetly on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
In a statement on the sting, Cobrapost said some of the celebrities tweeted without having been paid any money to “show their eagerness”.
Some celebrities turned down Cobrapost’s offer to promote a political party on social media.
“When we approached Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi, Raza Murad and Saumya Tandon with our proposition, these celebs chose to go by their conscience and straightaway refused to play ball,” it said.
Apart from Shroff, Kher and Oberoi, those who agreed to tweet for money included names such as Shreyas Talpade, Sunny Leone, Shakti Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Ameesha Patel, Tisca Chopra, Rakhi Sawant, TV star Pankaj Dheer and son Nikitin Dheer, Puneet Issar, Rajpal Yadav, Minissha Lamba, Hiten Tejwani and wife Gauri Pradhan, Mahima Chaudhary, Rohit Roy, Aman Verma, Koena Mitra and Rahul Bhat among others.
Singers Daler Mehndi, Mika, Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Baba Sehgal, choreographer Ganesh Acharya and comedians Rajpal Yadav, Raju Srivastava, Krushna Abhishek and Vijay Ishwarlal Pawar (VIP) were also part of the list. PTI
Take a look at the glimpse videos of the sting operation that Cobra Post’s verified Twitter handle shared today, below:
Abhijeet Bhattacharya:
#OperationKaraoke: Bollywood playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya offers to make incendiary videos that would make viewers’ blood boil: “Wo mera video lijiye aap statement live … paanch-paanch minute teen-teen chaar minute ke khoon khaulane wala video lijiye” pic.twitter.com/J1S7L9e37j
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Jackie Shroff:
#OperationKaraoke: Jackie Shroff says how it’s part of the game to keep such secrets “Wo game hota hai apna-apna yaar … apna kaam hai hum acchi baatein hum faila rahe hain, saath mein Dhan bhi de rahe hain toh oopar waale se faqir kya maangta hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/u5xI80Tr9H
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Sunny Leone:
#OperationKaraoke: Sunny Leonne has a condition of granting her husband Overseas Citizenship to support BJP: “Modi Sir ne Daniel ko overseas citizen banaya toh hum zaroor support karenge.” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/nGGw0OonRy
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Shakti Kapoor:
#OperationKaraoke: Bollywood baddy Shakti Kapoor has No confusion, He demands Rs.1 crore a month: “Aap batao na maine toh bola 9 Crore, ek Crore per Mahina… aapne Twitter ka baat kiya, Facebook ka baat kiya aur Instagram ka” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/komXjnQQY9
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Mika Singh:
#OperationKaraoke: Why not make a small tweet on NRC in Assam? Mika is willing to help “Sahi baat … Main chahta hoon ki aap mujhe uska content bhej do main usko halka-fulka edit kar doonga” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/19nY15xY07
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Vivek Oberoi:
#OperationKaraoke: Oberoi seeks required Data to make his messages look Factually Credible, something not paid for. “Aap data wagaireh bhi denge na…Data ke hissab se hum likh sakte hain … aisa lagna Nahi chahiye ki humein Bola gaya hai likhne ke liye” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/2SgD5TDMoN
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Sonu Sood:
#OperationKaraoke: Any doubt? “Nahi, nahi, Bilkul nahi. I got the point” says Sonu Sood. He seeks to Increase his Fee “I feel ki jo apan 1.5 crore soch rahe hain it should be at least 2.5” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/le4U12LRh3
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Ameesha Patel:
#OperationKaraoke: For Amisha Patel, Money is the Top Priority even before she makes some general tweets “Samajho aap 28 ko aa rahe ho, transaction ho jaata hai 28 kee sham ko main kar doongi…” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/8n0b3IrH04
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Ganesh Acharya:
#OperationKaraoke: Film Choreographer, Actor & Director Ganesh Acharya is quick to understand that he has to work on a Hidden Agenda: “Nahi main samajh gayaa aapki baat … Hidden hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/cNUiizGXGB
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Rakhi Sawant:
#OperationKaraoke: Savant makes a revelation on how she was hired earlier for the same purpose: “Last time bhi aise hua tha mujhe hire kiya tha Rajnath ji ne pata hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/9iOeOushkW
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Pankaj Dheer:
#OperationKaraoke: For Dheer, Messages Have to be Effective “Wo toh circus ban jayega. Tweet aana chahiye bahut Soch samajh ke, aur bahud qayde se, aur bahut time pe jiska weight bhi ho … It should be Appreciated also” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/Dh702HtAzM
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Akhilendra Mishra:
#OperationKaraoke: Akhilendra Mishra demands Rs. 50 lakh a month: “Yaar main toh soch ke kuchh aur aaya tha. Paise kee baat hui thi. Main soch raha tha ki aap log kum se kum 50 lakh rupaye mahina doge” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/5EK3al44qo
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Surendra Pal:
#OperationKaraoke: “Dronacharya” Surendra Pal is quick to understand what the Job Entails: “Mujhe Samajh mein Poora aa gayaa hai, poora Graph sab aage ka peeche ka side ka left ka” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/3uvTd4tGGm
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
PUneet Issar:
#OperationKaraoke: Issar is ready to make Controversial tweets to destroy Political Opponents of the BJP “Main aapse discuss kar loonga … sir, ye main inki Maar sakta hoon, Destroy kar sakta hoon…we will talk the Money then” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/hXinRcHYRO
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Tisca Chopra:
#OperationKaraoke: On approaching the Author & Actor Tisca Chopra, we enquire if she would like to Promote the AAP. Agreeing, she asks, “Kab tak karna ye ?” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/hQ8GSmwAqu
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Deepshikha Nagpal:
#OperationKaraoke: Deepshikha Nagpal agrees to promote AAP. She seeks content to be posted on social media in her own way. “Aap mujhe Ek cheej bhejoge…Content. Usko apne Hissab se appreciate karoongi” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/9OYEoGJ56k
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Rohit Roy:
#OperationKaraoke: Committing himself, Rohit Roy says “Theek hai done … Mail me and I will take it forward … kaise kya karoge ye abhi dekhna padega kyonki ye sab toh parhai likhai hogi nahi iski” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/zX6zTPfc2q
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Sunil Pal:
#OperationKaraoke: Comedian Sunil Pal makes a pitch, “BJP itni badi party hai kyonki inhone duniya se liya bahut hai inhone… inhone Nirav Modi ko de diya falaan ko de diya hai toh hum kalakaaron ko bhi de dein kuch” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/P5xffENtfN
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Raju Srivastava:
#OperationKaraoke: Raju Srivastava agrees to Attack leaders like Rahul Gandhi in a balanced way. Srivastava says, “Nahi wo toh main samajh gayaa direct toh hoga nahi thoda bolkar nikal gaye” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/lEdMwPVzoo
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Krushna Abhishek:
#OperationKaraoke: Abhishek lays out a host of plans, including his shows, to promote the BJP. He says, “Aur agar Professionally kar raha hoon main toh fir main usko proper plan bhi karoonga” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/5mdbIr2B87
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Vijay Pawar aka VIP:
#OperationKaraoke: Vijay Pawar is ready to lampoon Rahul Gandhi, “Uski maa bolegi Modiji baar-baar aap kyon jeet rahe ho. Mere khyal se Rahul bhi Modiji ko hee vote de raha hai wo bhi Modiji ko hee vote de raha hai Pappu” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/BBnBtFPUK3
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Evelyn Sharma:
#OperationKaraoke: On promoting The BJP government, Evelyn Sharma says, “I love this idea, I really like. It’s very subtle and at the same time it’s promoting country suppose to are we following, so yeah I really like this” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/WcTG5HelOR
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Minissha Lamba:
Minissha Lamba is disappointed when told a part of her fee will be paid in white. “No I thought it was a mainly a cash deal toh fir jo contract banega what is going to be scope of” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/SIJPlNMHT1
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Koena Mitra:
#OperationKaraoke: Mitra reveals she even Trolled the Delhi Chief minister, “Kejriwal ko maine thoda troll karke likha tha, unka thoda mazaak udake likha tha! Public ko bahut pasand aaya tha wo kyonki Official accounts aisa Nahi likh sakte” @ArvindKejriwal #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/3H6FuOBwcq
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Swambhavana Seth:
#OperationKaraoke: Sambhavana Seth demands Rs. 50 lakh for the Job, “At least kum se kum main agar aapka itna lamba agar chalne wala hai toh main expect karoongi ki kum se kum mere paas pachaas tak to aaye” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/y9Jru0UTkH
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Salim Zaidi:
#OperationKaraoke: Salim Zaidi would not hesitate to lampoon Rahul Gandhi, using as few words as possible, “Kabhi ye aa gaya kabhi kuch aa gayaa … kum shabdon mein teer lag jaaye sateek” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/I3K3ra5acQ
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Upasana Singh:
#OperationKaraoke: While agreeing to promote the BJP, Upasana Singh is curious to know if she would be paid in advance, “Haan, aap pehle hee pay karte hain” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/DGk1onCwMt
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Baba Sehgal:
#OperationKaraoke: Rapper Baba Sehgal reveals, “Haan samajh gaya main. Samajh gaya main! Karte hain hum log Bahut Baari Kiya hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/S3ToKnnoRn
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Aman Verma:
#OperationKaraoke: Aman Verma is desperate to clinch the offer. He is offered Rs. 50000 per message. Verma asks, “And how is the payment going to come in?” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/n5LK45t9ri
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Hiten Tejwani and GAuri Pradhan:
#OperationKaraoke: Tejwani @tentej makes a revelation: “Correct, Public ko Nahi pata hoga. hota hee aisa hai saara matlab ye bhi for example ye political party ka kind of promotion hai toh hum log product bhi uss tareh se promote karte hain’ #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/A0EJhn5Q3a
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Rahul Bhat:
#OperationKaraoke: Rahul Bhat is curious to know what is in store for him in the deal. He asks, “Okay hoon … toh usmein Mujhe kya milega kaise karenge” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/xFChT1m7io
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Poonam Panday:
#OperationKaraoke: Poonam Pandey is gung ho over the proposition from the word go. She says, “Hum log basically content hum log baat karke we can sort it out wo kar sakte hain” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/YfGuOVI7SX
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Mahima Chaudhry:
#OperationKaraoke: Mahima Chaudhry while agreeing seeks to know the Budget “Jhoot mooth ke Tweet kitna milega … kya Budget lekar aaye ho?” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/rwls1HfmKW
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Rajpal Yadav:
#OperationKaraoke: On defending the BJP, Yadav says assuringly “Itne acche se Defend karoonga ki aapki Tabiyat Khush ho jayegi” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/ljfI05ZGO9
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Shreyas Talpade:
#OperationKaraoke: Agreeing to promote AAP on Social media, Actor & Director Shreyas Talpade asks how many Messages he is supposed to tweet, “Haan aur ye aapko kitne duration mein tweet lenge” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/aYKrG285w9
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
Kailash Kher:
Kailash Kher tells us that his agency will handle the Commercial aspects of the Deal, with a hidden agenda: “Haan, Hidden mein bhi wo batayenge commercial hum Nahi batayenge. Hum bas Haan ya Na kar sakte hain, ki ye kaam hum kar payenge ya Nahi kar payenge” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/RtiG1cXnKL
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
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