YouTubers staging prank videos arrested for harassing women at Elliot's Beach

Azem Badshah (23) of Neelankarai, the anchor of a city-based YouTube channel, its cameraman K Ajai Babu (23) of Perungudi and the owner M Dinesh (31) of Nallur were arrested under Sections 294(b), 354(b), 509, 506(1) of IPC and 4 of Woman Harassment Act and remanded in judicial custody, on Tuesday.

Inspector Palavesam told DT Next that they had also received a petition against the channel through the Chief Minister's  cell. "On Monday, Ajai Babu and Azem Badshah were shooting a video by asking uncomfortable questions to women at Elliot's Beach. When a fisherwoman opposed it, the duo threatened and verbally abused her.

She then approached the police and based on her complaint, the Sastri Nagar police secured Ajaj and Azem, and detained the owner of the YouTube channel. During investigation, the police found that the men would ask obscene questions to random women in public places and upload their reaction on YouTube.

"To get more views and likes for their videos, they would also ask their friends to act as passersby and react aggressively to their questions," said an officer. There are about 200 such videos available on their channel which have more than seven crore views. Further investigation is underway.