Actor Anup Soni recently got himself into a political controversy after a clip from his television work was used in a Congress campaign advertisement without his consent. The ad, which targeted Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal, featured a segment from Soni’s show, leading him to promptly clarify his non-involvement.
The Congress party posted the video on its official X account, starting with a voiceover warning Delhiites of Kejriwal’s alleged deception in the last decade. The narration charges him with cheating the public and indulging in extravagance while letting the country sleep. Then, comes a scene in “Crime Patrol”, where Anup Soni suggests caution and remarks, “Aise halaat mein behatar yahin hain ki waqt rahte insaan satark hokar apne kadam peeche hata le,” translated as, “In such situations, it’s better to step back cautiously in time.”
Upon finding out that his footage was used without permission, Soni went to X to distance himself from the political message. He said, “There is a small portion of my television work that has been used in this political campaign video. I have nothing to do with this.”
Anup Soni is well-known for hosting “Crime Patrol.” The show presents real-life crime cases in an enacted form with the aim of educating viewers to be vigilant. His association with the show has made him a familiar face across Indian households.
This incident underscores how difficult it has become for public figures to defend their work when it’s used without consent, especially within a political context. It also sheds light on how important it has become to secure consent before making use of the likeness or any form of someone’s work, especially in politics.
The clarification by Soni reminds one that ethical considerations need to be there in the use of content and that unauthorized associations might have repercussions for public personalities.
सावधान रहें, सतर्क रहें pic.twitter.com/5RQn9FYegn
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 28, 2025
