Delhi Police arrested social media influencer Amir Shokeen following a viral video allegedly showing racial harassment and humiliation of a person from Tripura. The case has triggered widespread condemnation, with political leaders demanding strict legal action and a fair investigation.
Delhi Police has arrested social media influencer Amir Shokeen in connection with a viral video allegedly showing the racial harassment and humiliation of an individual from Tripura, officials said. The arrest came hours after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered following widespread public outrage and demands for legal action against the content creator.
The case was registered at Sadar Bazar police station under Sections 192, 196, 352 and 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Delhi Police took suo motu cognisance of the video after it circulated widely on social media, triggering condemnation from political leaders and members of the Northeast community.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Niharika Bhatt said the accused had been identified as Amir Shokeen, a content creator associated with the Sadar Bazar area. According to the officer, Shokeen had previously been involved in multiple cases relating to brawling.
Police teams were formed to apprehend the accused after the FIR was registered. The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police is investigating the viral video. The Special Police Unit for North Eastern Region (SPUNER) had earlier written to the IFSO unit, requesting an investigation into the footage.
Before the arrest, police personnel had visited Shokeen’s residence as part of their efforts to locate him. A senior police officer had said that the content creator was absconding. The subsequent arrest marked a significant development in the investigation into the allegations surrounding the video.
Political Leaders Condemn Viral Video
The incident sparked widespread condemnation, with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha calling for appropriate action against the accused.
Rijiju, in a post on X, said the accused would face action and that Delhi and Tripura Police would ensure accountability. He acknowledged the delay in filing the official complaint but stressed that the alleged conduct would not go unaddressed.
Chief Minister Manik Saha also directed the Tripura Director General of Police to coordinate with Delhi Police regarding the matter. Leaders from different political parties have condemned the alleged treatment of the individual and demanded a thorough investigation.
The controversy has renewed concerns about racial discrimination, online harassment and the treatment of people from India’s northeastern states in other parts of the country.
Tripura Students Forum Seeks Fair Investigation
The Tripura Students Forum Delhi (TSFD), in a complaint dated October 21 addressed to the Joint Commissioner of Police, SPUNER, sought an urgent and impartial investigation into the incident.
The forum alleged that the video depicted an individual from Tripura being subjected to sexual harassment, humiliation and other degrading treatment by a social media content creator. It identified the Instagram account @amirshoksen as allegedly linked to the incident and requested that investigators verify the identity and role of the account operator.
The complaint also called for an investigation into the possible involvement of other individuals who may have participated in or recorded the alleged incident. The forum alleged that the video contained racially derogatory expressions directed at the individual, along with a demeaning reference to Tripura.
According to the complaint, the content had caused considerable anguish among members of the state’s community. The forum urged authorities to take appropriate legal action based on the available evidence and applicable provisions of law.
It also called on investigators to preserve electronic evidence, including the original recording, metadata, account details and upload history. The complaint further sought measures to prevent additional harassment, intimidation or circulation of material that could cause further harm to the person concerned.
The forum requested registration of an FIR wherever warranted by the facts and relevant legal provisions.
Accused Had Earlier Issued Apology
Before his arrest, Shokeen reportedly issued an apology after the video attracted widespread criticism on social media.
In a Facebook post, he claimed that the video had been scripted and that he knew the individual featured in it. He said the man had previously worked at a friend’s cafe in Ahmedabad and described the exchange as a humorous video in which both individuals were joking.
However, the explanation did not prevent demands for a police investigation and legal action from various quarters. The allegations surrounding the video are subject to investigation, and the claims made by the parties need to be assessed by the authorities.
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Officials also said this was not the first time an FIR had been registered against Shokeen. Previous cases had reportedly been filed against him under Sections 323, 324, 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The latest case has placed renewed attention on the responsibility of social media creators and the need to address alleged racial harassment. With Delhi Police investigating the matter and Tripura authorities coordinating with their counterparts, the focus remains on establishing the facts, examining the available evidence and determining any criminal liability under the law.
