Hyderabad: Expelled All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) Mirza Rahmath Baig has reportedly gone missing after returning to Hyderabad from an Umrah pilgrimage on August 29. The development comes just days after the party expelled him with immediate effect and directed him to resign from his MLC post. However, Baig has refused to step down, insisting that he wants to continue serving as a worker of the party despite his expulsion. His reported disappearance has added a new twist to an already high-profile political controversy in Telangana.

The controversy began after serious allegations surfaced against Baig on social media. He has strongly denied all accusations, claiming that the videos and images circulating online are fabricated using deepfake technology to damage his reputation. Baig stated that he has done nothing wrong and expressed confidence that AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi would ensure justice. He also revealed that he had approached the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police, alleging that unidentified individuals threatened and blackmailed him by demanding money in exchange for not releasing morphed photographs and deepfake videos. According to Baig, the campaign against him is part of an attempt to defame him.

The case has triggered a political storm, with both the BJP and BRS demanding a transparent and impartial investigation into the allegations. BJP leaders argued that expelling Baig from the party alone is not sufficient and called on the Telangana government to ensure that the investigation is conducted without political interference. While the allegations against Baig remain under scrutiny and he continues to deny any wrongdoing, his reported disappearance after returning from Umrah has further intensified public attention. Authorities have not yet issued a final statement confirming the circumstances surrounding his reported disappearance.