YouTuber-Journalist Faces Extortion Charges in Ballia, U.P

Speedy Summary

• A YouTuber journalist, Sanjeev Kumar Gupta, was booked for allegedly demanding ₹30,000 per month from a businessman and threatening consequences if the amount was not paid.
• The complaint was filed by trader Dilip Kumar Gupta at Rasra Police Station in Rasra town,Uttar Pradesh.
• According to the complaint, Sanjeev allegedly used his status as an accredited journalist to pressure Dilip into making payments and spread misleading content about him on social media.
• An FIR has been registered under Section 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and police confirmed that investigations are underway.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The allegations against an accredited journalist using social media influence for extortion raise serious concerns about ethical practices in digital media. Journalism plays a critical role in shaping trust within society; misuse of this platform harms its credibility and erodes public confidence. If proven true, such actions could undermine legitimate journalism while increasing scrutiny of independent creators who operate outside traditional frameworks. India may need systemic checks to ensure accountability among all forms of news dissemination while protecting businesses and individuals from reputational harm caused by misinformation.This case emphasizes the importance of enforcing laws like Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita effectively without stifling press freedom.

Source: september 02, 2025 | Published at 10:30 am IST