Srinagar, July 27: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Jammu and Kashmir landed in a controversy after pictures showing him in obscene positions with a young woman went viral on social media. The woman, who claimed the pictures were morphed, is the daughter of a soldier. The disciplinary committee of the BJP on Thursday recommended his suspension for three months from the party.

Last month, the woman’s father had lodged a complaint against R S Pura MLA Gagan Bhagat accusing him of abducting his daughter. Besides, the legislator's wife, Monika Sharma complained to the party that he had married her. She had submitted documents, photographs and videos. of Bhagat with the woman to back her claim. The MLA and the woman, however, refuted the charge and said that their pictures were photoshoped.

Bhagat said his wife morphed his pictures to tarnish his image at the behest of his political opponents. “There is already a divorce suit between me and my wife pending in the court,” he told Indian Express. Three-member disciplinary committee recommended the party high command to suspend Bhagat for three months and asked him to settle disputes during the period. The suspension will send a strong message that indiscipline will not be tolerated, the panel observed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 27, 2018 11:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).