The Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police on Thursday (August 6, 2020) has summoned the famous Bollywood singer and rapper in the fake social media followers case.
Badshah is the first Bollywood celebrity to be summoned by the Crime Branch.
Baadshah's Instagram account @badboyshah figured in the investigation by the Crime Intelligence Unit and the rapper was asked to join the investigation on August 3. However, he failed to appear on the said date after which he has again asked to appear before CIU officials on August 6.
Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), last month busted a racket being run where fake views and fake followers were being bought by various celebrities in violation of the Information Technology Act following which with the help of Social media experts the case probe was initiated by the CIU.
The matter first came to light after singer Bhoomi Trivedi's complaint to the police about a fake Instagram account which led investigators to a business based on identity theft.
Reports suggest that the crime branch may issue summons to Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra too in the case.
In the investigation so far, Mumbai Police have found a few Bollywood celebrities, sports personalities and as many as 176 high profile people who have allegedly paid to get followers.
With inputs from ABP correspondent Mritunjay Singh