Junagadh YouTuber Files Police Complaint Over Alleged Extortion and Harassment
A 27-year-old labourer and part-time YouTuber from Junagadh, Abjal Sida, has filed a formal police complaint alleging severe harassment, threats, and an extortion attempt by a controversial social media personality and her associates. The complaint details a disturbing sequence of events that began after Sida uploaded videos criticising the actions of YouTuber Kirti Patel during a recent religious fair.
Dispute Over Religious Fair Conduct
The conflict reportedly originated during the recent Shivratri fair. Sida, who identifies as Muslim but expressed respect for Sanatan Dharma, alleged that Kirti Patel participated in a sacred bath while disguised as a monk, an act he and others found disrespectful to religious traditions. In response, Sida used his Instagram account to post videos opposing Patel's conduct, which he believed was inappropriate for the sacred occasion.
Escalation to Threats and Extortion Demands
According to the complaint, the backlash was immediate and severe. Patel and her associates—identified as Divya Savlani, her boyfriend Jashpalsinh, Hanu Chavda, and Veeram Mevada—allegedly began contacting Sida through Instagram, using abusive language and demanding he remove his critical videos. The situation reportedly escalated when the group made an extortion demand of Rs 20 lakh, threatening to falsely implicate Sida in a criminal case, including a rape charge, if he refused to comply.
Distress and Hospitalisation
The alleged harassment pushed Sida into extreme distress. After enduring a night of threats, he consumed phenyl at his home and again near the Jetpur railway bridge. A woman discovered him at the bridge and rushed him to Jetpur government hospital for emergency treatment. Reports indicate that Sida had recorded a video of this act, though the police have not confirmed the contents of this recording.
Police Response and Legal Action
Jetpur police recorded Sida's statement at the hospital and forwarded it to Junagadh police authorities. Based on this statement, a formal complaint was registered with Junagadh taluka police station against all the accused under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 308(4), 308(6), 351(3), 54, and 296(b).
Additional Allegations Against Patel
In a separate incident, Kirti Patel was also booked for allegedly misbehaving with a woman police constable during the Shivratri fair. A complaint filed with Bhavnath police station on February 17 detailed that Patel argued with police officers when asked to leave the sacred bath area after monks objected to her presence, which occurred ahead of a scheduled visit by the chief minister.
The case highlights growing concerns about online harassment and extortion in the digital age, particularly involving social media personalities with significant followings. Police investigations are ongoing as authorities examine the evidence and statements from all parties involved.
