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Telugu YouTuber’s claim of entering Mecca sparks row

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The claim by a Telugu YouTuber that he visited Islam’s holiest site Mecca in Saudi Arabia has sparked a row with a section of netizens calling for action against him for violating the Saudi rules which do not permit a non-Muslim to enter the grand mosque.

Ravi Prabhu recently claimed in a live chat that he entered Mecca. He even showed a photograph on his mobile, which shows him standing near the holiest mosque with hands raised in supplication.

In another video clip, the traveller revealed that at the entry point to Mecca he was asked to recite some Quranic verses and when he recited the same, he was allowed.

However, the YouTuber’s claim kicked up a row with some netizens questioning his action and even demanding Saudi authorities to take action. In the wake of this controversy, Ravi stopped answering any questions about his alleged Mecca visit.

During the subsequent live sessions over social media, the traveler declined to answer any question about Mecca. Some of the netizens remarked that his action was not proper and legal. One of them even commented that he may face imprisonment for 8-10 years.

Another netizen stated that he may face the death sentence in Saudi Arabia for entering Mecca in violation of rules. A Twitter user has tagged Saudi authorities while demanding action against Ravi for allegedly using fake Muslim certificate to enter Mecca. He also posted a video of the traveler’s claims.

Ravi, whose YouTube channel Ravi Telugu Traveller has over 6 lakh subscribers, had claimed to be the first Telugu YouTuber to enter Mecca.

This came close on the heels of the reporter that an Israeli journalist managed to sneak into Mecca. Gil Tamary of Channel13 violated Saudi rules to enter the holy city. A Saudi citizen is reportedly facing prosecution for alleged complicity.

Ravi, an Indian American, claims to be the most travelled Telugu YouTuber. He has posted videos of his visit to various countries on his YouTube channel. He claims to have visited 187 of the 195 countries.

Crime

Colaba Police Book 2 For Impersonation In IBPS Recruitment To Secure New India Assurance Administrative Officer Job

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Mumbai: The Colaba police have booked two individuals for allegedly someone else appeared in interview to New India Assurance Company Limited to secure the post of administrative officer. The accused, Chandan Kumar, worked with the company for one year and nine months and drew a salary of Rs. 20.16 lakh during this period.

According to the FIR, the office of New India Assurance Company Limited is located in Colaba. On July 27, 2023, the company published an advertisement for the post of administrative officer. The company had outsourced the recruitment process to Institute of the IBPS for selecting candidates. IBPS conducted the selection process in three phases. In the final phase, a panel from New India Assurance Company was also involved in the interview process. After completing the process, IBPS selected 450 candidates and sent the list to the company’s Mumbai office.

The accused, Chandan Kumar from Patna, was one of the selected candidates on the list. He joined the company as an administrative officer on April 1, 2024. Meanwhile, on October 6, 2025, the company received an email from balramkuma2067@gmail.com alleging that three candidates, including Chandan Kumar and two others from Bhopal and Delhi, had secured their jobs through fraudulent means. The email claimed that during the selection process, impersonators had appeared for the examination and interviews on behalf of the candidates. The company took the complaint seriously and initiated an inquiry.

Subsequently, Chandan Kumar went on leave. The company contacted him and asked him to present himself at the office for biometric verification. Initially, he gave reasons for not appearing, but in November 2025, he reported to the office. The company found that his biometric data did not match the biometric records collected during the selection process. Consequently, the company terminated his services on January 6, 2026.

In the FIR, the company stated that Chandan Kumar had worked from March 4, 2024, to January 5, 2026, and had drawn a salary of Rs. 20.16 lakh. Based on the complaint, the police registered a cheating case on May 5.

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Crime

Ex bank officer digitally arrested for 54 days on threat of implication in Delhi bomb blast; Rs 40 lakh extorted in Mumbai

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Mumbai, In a shocking cybercrime, fraudsters allegedly placed a retired bank manager under “digital arrest” for 54 days in Mumbai’s Bhandup area, extorting Rs 40.90 lakh by threatening to implicate him in the Delhi bomb blasts and a money laundering case, Mumbai Police said on Wednesday.

According to Mumbai Police, the accused impersonated officers from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), creating an atmosphere of fear and psychological pressure that forced the victim to comply with their demands.

The victim, Rajendra, a former manager at the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank, was manipulated into transferring large sums of money, including liquidating his stock market investments.

The incident began on March 10, when Rajendra received a video call via the Signal app from an account named “ATS Department.” The caller introduced himself as PSI Singh, claiming to be an officer from the Delhi ATS. He alleged that Rajendra’s name had surfaced in connection with the Delhi bomb blasts that took place in January, as well as in a money laundering case.

The fraudsters further claimed that a bank account had been fraudulently opened in Karnataka using Rajendra’s Aadhaar details and mobile number, through which suspicious transactions amounting to Rs 2.65 crore had been carried out. To intensify the threat, they cited a purported Supreme Court order and warned of immediate arrest and confiscation of his assets.

Under constant surveillance via video calls, Rajendra was instructed to isolate himself in a separate room at home, avoid speaking to anyone, and strictly follow their directions. Acting under extreme mental duress, he initially transferred Rs 2.90 lakh. The fraud escalated when he was coerced into selling shares worth Rs 29 lakh from his stock market investments. Of this amount, Rs 28 lakh was siphoned off into multiple bank accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

The accused further extorted Rs 10 lakh under the pretext of “bail security,” which was arranged by the victim’s wife through a loan. The fraudsters assured Rajendra that the entire amount would be refunded within two days and that the case would be resolved.

However, soon after receiving the money, the accused cut off all communication. After waiting for several days without any response, Rajendra realised he had been duped.

He subsequently filed a complaint with the national cybercrime helpline 1930 on May 3, followed by a formal complaint with the Mumbai Cyber Cell on May 4. Police have launched an investigation to trace the perpetrators and identify the bank accounts used in the fraud.

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Crime

Mumbai Crime Branch Probes Massive Birth Certificate Fraud; SIT Formed, Over 87,000 Records Under Scanner

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Mumbai: The investigation into offences involving the procurement of incorrect birth registration certificates in Mumbai on the basis of forged documents is being carried out by the Crime Branch, Mumbai.

Raj Tilak Raushan, deputy commissioner of police, Crime Branch, stated, “During the course of investigation, as well as from other complaints received, it has come to light that a large number of such birth registration certificates have been obtained through similar fraudulent means.”

Considering the wide scope and seriousness of the matter, the Hon’ble Commissioner of Police, Brihanmumbai, has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a thorough and effective investigation into these offences and the complaints received, Raushan added.

The said Special Investigation Team is headed by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) and comprises the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mumbai, Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch), Mumbai, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection), Crime Branch, Mumbai, along with other officers.

In the wake of a BMC probe uncovering irregularities in over 87,000 birth and death records, Mumbai BJP president MLA Ameet Satam has demanded the immediate suspension of the officials involved and the registration of FIRs against them.

Last week, a shocking probe by the BMC Health Department exposed a massive racket in Mumbai’s civic system, with 87,347 bogus birth certificates allegedly issued to Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya residents, pointing to deep-rooted manipulation of official records.

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