Overview

• Piyush Katyaal, a prank-video creator with over 500,000 YouTube subscribers, was taken into custody in Delhi on June 12 by North Region Cyber police.
• A 45-year-old Mumbai resident paid approximately Rs19 lakh after Katyaal claimed a medical emergency and later threatened to publish their private chats.
• Cyber officers lodged charges under sections of the Information Technology Act and obtained a court order remanding Katyaal to five days of police custody.
• Investigators are poring over messaging logs and transaction records to establish if the accused targeted additional victims through his online platform.
• The case highlights rising concerns over social media–driven fraud and underscores the need for users to exercise greater vigilance online.