YouTuber, known for prank videos, blackmails Mumbai woman, dupes her of ₹19 lakh
Piyush Katyaal had exchanged numbers with the woman and sought money from her, citing a medical emergency.
Mumbai police have arrested a Delhi-based YouTuber for allegedly threatening and duping a 45-year-old woman of ₹19 lakh, an official said on Sunday.
The accused, Piyush Katyaal, is known for his prank videos on YouTube and has more than 5 lakh followers, he said.
A woman approached the North Region Cyber police station with a complaint of cheating last week, the official said.
He said the woman alleged that she came into contact with Katyaal five months ago after she liked one of his prank videos, and posted a comment about it and started following his account.
The duo exchanged phone numbers, and a few days ago, Katyaal sought money from her, citing a medical emergency, the official said.
She initially refused him, but he later blackmailed her and threatened to make her messages and chats public on social media.
The woman paid him around ₹19 lakh over a period of time and subsequently approached the cyber police, he said.
A case was registered against Katyaal, and a team from the North Region Cyber police station arrested him in Delhi on June 12, he said, adding that further probe is underway.
