Pune: After Controversial Remarks, Social Media Influencer Mahesh Mote Blackens His Own Face and Apologises To Raj Thackeray

Pune, 21st September 2026: Social media influencer Mahesh Mote has apologised to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray over remarks he made about the party leader in a social media video, after the comments triggered a controversy and anger among MNS workers.

Mote visited the MNS office in Pune and expressed regret over his remarks. In a video that has surfaced on social media, he is seen with his face blackened and prostrating before a photograph of Raj Thackeray while seeking forgiveness.

MNS workers had earlier accused Mote of making objectionable remarks about Thackeray in a social media video. The comments reportedly angered party workers, following which Mote issued an apology and said he had made a mistake while making reels for social media.

In the apology video, Mote appears emotional and says, “I made a mistake in the process of making reels.” He apologised to Thackeray as well as MNS office-bearers and workers.

Mote also named Pune MNS office-bearers and corporator Sainath Babar, Ashish Sable, Tapkir and Shubham Dada, among others, while seeking forgiveness for his remarks.

As a purported act of repentance, Mote blackened his own face before bowing before Thackeray’s photograph at the MNS office. He said he would not repeat the mistake.

“I made a mistake while speaking about Raj Thackeray. In the process of making reels on social media, I said something wrong and now I am facing the consequences. I apologise to Raj Thackeray and the entire MNS for my mistake,” he said in the video.

Recent reports said MNS workers had confronted Mote in Pune and allegedly subjected him to public humiliation before taking him to the party office. Reports said his face was smeared with black ink, he was made to perform sit-ups with a slipper on his head and was made to prostrate before Thackeray’s photograph and record an apology. MNS office-bearers were quoted describing the action as their response to his remarks.

Mote’s apology video has since circulated widely on social media. The episode has also sparked discussion over the consequences of making controversial remarks on social media.