Posters of Tamil actor-director Santhana Bharathi put up to welcome Shah in Ranipet

Posters resembling Amit Shah featuring Tamil actor Santhana Bharathi put up in Ranipet district, sparking controversy.

Posters featuring Tamil actor-director Santhana Bharathi — whose facial and physical features remotely resembled to that of Home Minister Amit Shah — were put up in Ranipet district to welcome Mr. Shah, who had participated in the CISF Day at the newly named Rajaditya Chola Recruits Training Centre at Thakkolam on Friday.

The posters had pictures of Mr. Bharathi, and praised him by saying “Iron Man of India! Living History! Welcome!” The posters had the name of Arulmozhi, State Executive Committee Member of the BJP.

However, in a statement, she claimed she had not put up those posters and alleged that the logo of the Union government was misused. She also wrote to the Superintendent of Police, Ranipet, seeking action. BJP state president K. Annamalai too denied the poster was put by the party and suspected it to be the handiwork of mischief mongers.

Some years ago, when Mr. Shah was not a familiar figure in Tamil Nadu, a poster featuring Mr. Bharathi — mistaken to be Mr. Shah — was put up by a BJP functionary. The actor had mocked about this in an interview.