Badshah admits buying crores of fake views for Rs 72 lakh, say Mumbai Police; rapper denies allegations

Tribune Web Desk
Chandiagrh/Mumbai, August 9

Rapper Badshah has denied any involvement in the fake social media followers scam, which is being investigated by the Mumbai Police.

The rapper issued a statement on Saturday evening, where he mentioned that he has categorically denied all allegations levelled against him while speaking to the police.

"Following the summons, I have spoken to the Mumbai Police. I have aided the officials in their investigation by cooperating and carrying out the due diligence on my part. I have categorically denied all the allegations levelled against me and made it clear that I was never involved in such practices, nor do I condone them. The investigation procedure is being executed in accordance with the law and I have complete faith in the authorities, who are handling this matter. I would like to thank all those who have conveyed their concern to me. It means a lot to me," reads the statement issued by Badshah.

The rapper's clarification comes in the wake of a 10-hour-long interrogation by the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) on Friday regarding allegedly promoting his music album with fake likes and followers. 

Badshah was questioned again on Saturday. 

Officials claimed that during questioning, Badshah confessed that he’d purchased around 7.2 crore views for Rs 72 lakh, in order to set a world record for most YouTube views in the first 24 hours. 

He had claimed that the music video for 'Pagal Hai' had been watched 75 million times in the first day of its release, beating previous records set by Taylor Swift and the Korean boy band BTS. 

The claim was rejected by Google.

Nandkumar Thakur, deputy commissioner of police, told Mumbai Mirror: “The singer confessed that he wanted to set a world record for most number of viewers in 24 hours on YouTube. That is why he paid Rs 72 lakh to this company.” 

“Apart from Pagal Hai, we are also scrutinising his other songs posted on social media,” another official told Mirror.

Till date, the Mumbai Police has investigated at least 20 prominent personalities.

The developments came after the Mumbai Police busted the scam on July 14 through analytical technical-intelligence and nabbed one person, following a complaint lodged by Bollywood playback singer Bhoomi Trivedi. — With IANS

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