Haryana YouTuber arrested for ‘posting fake Sambhal mosque vandalism video to increase followers’

BAREILLY: A youngster from Haryana has been arrested for allegedly inciting enmity and hatred between communities by uploading a misleading video of vandalism at a religious site, falsely claiming it was Sambhal's Mugha-era Shahi Jama Masjid, police said on Sunday. The video was shared widely on social media platforms, prompting the cybercrime police to register a case and launch an investigation.
Momin Khan, 22, was arrested by Sambhal cybercrime police after an FIR was lodged on Dec 6, 2024, based on sub-inspector Anil Kumar's complaint. Investigators found that the video had been uploaded on Momin's YouTube channel, which has around 19,000 subscribers. During interrogation, he allegedly told the police that he is a furniture craftsman and that his family members are labourers. He also admitted to sensationalising the video to increase his subscriber count.
Cybercrime inspector Amresh Kumar told TOI that Momin was presented in court and subsequently sent to jail on Sunday. "A case was registered under sections 196 and 353(2) of BNSS against an unknown person based on SI Anil Kumar's complaint. The investigation revealed that the YouTube channel belongs to Momin, a resident of Masit village in Haryana, who regularly uploaded videos on Islamic matters. This is the first arrest in the three cases related to Sambhal violence registered at the cyber police station. Investigations into the other two cases are ongoing."