MUMBAI: Powai police have arrested four persons for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a 28-year-old content creator who had posted videos criticising a Chinese betting app and warning people against it.Police said the victim, Vikhroli resident Chetan Deolkar, was allegedly kidnapped from Powai on July 26 and assaulted inside a moving SUV for nearly 12 hours before being abandoned at Kalamboli late that night. The case was solved within 24 hours of Deolkar approaching the police, officials said.The arrested accused have been identified as Yash Babare, a Vikhroli resident; Pratik Shinde of Pune; Aniket Godse of Satara and Sameer Kuchekar, alias SK, of Pune.According to police, the accused were allegedly involved in making reels promoting a Chinese betting app and objected to Deolkar’s videos criticising it. They allegedly called him to Panchkutir in Powai on the pretext of discussing the matter before abducting him.Deolkar approached Powai police after seeking medical treatment. “Since the complainant was scared at the time, he sought medical treatment and then came to Powai Police Station to file a complaint. His statement was recorded, and a case has been registered against Yash Babare, Pratik Shinde, Aniket Godse, Sameer Kuchekar alias S.K., and three other unknown persons who were with them,” said a police officer.In his complaint, Deolkar said he had been creating “Counter Reels” for around eight months to raise awareness against the promotion of betting apps by social media influencers.“I am professionally engaged in filmmaking and has an Instagram account @relatewithchetyal. I creates reels and various types of content on this Instagram account. For the past eight months, I had been creating counter reels on my Instagram account to raise awareness, as I believed it was wrong for selected famous Reel Creators on Instagram to promote betting apps (Chinese apps) for download,” he said.Deolkar alleged that Shinde was also promoting the betting app through his Instagram account and that he had “Roasted” Shinde’s reels and stories.“About five to six months ago, an unknown person named Aniket had called me on Instagram and threatened me not to ‘Roast’ the reels and stories promoted by Shinde’s betting app. However, since the betting app was wrong, I continued to ‘Roast’ Shinde’s reels and stories,” Deolkar said in the FIR.Police said Shinde allegedly held a grudge against Deolkar and planned the kidnapping. The investigation was conducted under the supervision of DCP (West Zone-3) Datta Nalawade by a team led by ACP Dadasaheb Yadugade, senior inspector Atmaji Sawant, inspectors Sushant Badgar and Sandeep Chavan, and other police personnel.Police first arrested Babare in Vikhroli, following which he allegedly led investigators to the other three accused.According to police, Deolkar was called to Powai for a meeting and allegedly forced into an SUV around 11.30 am on July 26. He was made to sit between the front and rear seats. When he tried to scream, one of the accused allegedly pressed a foot against his throat, while another pulled out a knife and threatened to stab him in the stomach. Police said Kuchekar also assaulted him.The accused allegedly drove around for several hours while assaulting Deolkar and questioned him about his videos.“Why do you make videos against our betting app? If you want to promote the app, do it, but why against us!” they allegedly told him.Police said Deolkar eventually told the accused that he would not make reels against them. He was allegedly dropped at Kalamboli at around 11.35pm.Police are now investigating the role of the three unidentified persons named in the complaint and probing the alleged betting app network.
