Officials claimed that during questioning, Badshah confessed that he’d purchased around 7.2 crore (72 Million) views for Rs 72 lakh ($144,000 CAD), in order to set a world record for most YouTube views in the first 24 hours. He had claimed that the music video for Pagal Hai had been watched 75 million times in the first day of its release, beating previous records set by Taylor Swift and the Korean boy band BTS. The claim was rejected by Google. The police are investigating at least 100 Social Media Marketing (SMM) firms and 54 portals all over India, which offer services of generating fake profiles, likes, comments, followers, etc, through fake IDs or bots, on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc, with the alleged 'followers' also being used to create social panic through rumours.

MUMBAI – Following crackdown by Google owned youtube on millions of fake views of Punjabi music videos and other social media likes and followers, authorities in India are also taking note and interrogating artists who have come under the scanner.

Mumbai police in continuing its probe into the sensational social media racket linked to creating fake 'followers and likes', which was busted last month, have investigated at least 20 prominent personalities including rapper Aditya Prateek Singh Sisodia, alias Badshah, official police sources told the media.

After a 10-hour long interrogation by the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) last Friday, Badshah has reportedly admitted to shelling out over Rs. 72 lakh for promoting his music album with fake likes and followers. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Officials claimed that during questioning, Badshah confessed that he’d purchased around 7.2 crore (72 Million) views for Rs 72 lakh ($144,000 CAD), in order to set a world record for most YouTube views in the first 24 hours. He had claimed that the music video for Pagal Hai had been watched 75 million times in the first day of its release, beating previous records set by Taylor Swift and the Korean boy band BTS. The claim was rejected by Google.

Nandkumar Thakur, deputy commissioner of police, told Mumbai Mirror: “The singer confessed that he wanted to set a world record for most number of viewers in 24 hours on YouTube. That is why he paid Rs 72 lakh to this company.”

“Apart from Pagal Hai, we are also scrutinising his other songs posted on social media,” another official told Mirror.

Badshah has denied the allegations. “Following the summons, I have spoken to the Mumbai Police. I have aided the officials in their investigation by cooperating and carrying out the due diligence on my part. I’ve categorically denied all the allegations levelled against me and made it clear that I was never involved in such practices, nor do I condone them,” he said in a statement. “The investigation procedure is being executed in accordance with the law and I have complete faith in the authorities, who are handling this matter. I’d like to thank all those who have conveyed their concern to me. It means a lot to me.”

The developments came after the Mumbai Police busted the sensational scam on July 14 through analytical technical-intelligence and nabbed one person, following a complaint lodged by Bollywood playback singer Bhumi Trivedi.

Probing Trivedi's July 11 complaint that some persons had created her fake Instagram profile and were approaching other celebrities in the entertainment industry with similar offers, the CIU got cracking to expose the mega-scam with international ramifications.

The police are investigating at least 100 Social Media Marketing (SMM) firms and 54 portals all over India, which offer services of generating fake profiles, likes, comments, followers, etc, through fake IDs or bots, on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, etc, with the alleged 'followers' also being used to create social panic through rumours.