‘Social media influencer’ heldfor extorting bakery owners

Bengaluru: A man who claimed to be a "social media influencer" and extorted money from bakeries and condiment shops on the pretext of getting their stores raided over hygiene issues has been arrested by Hulimavu police.
Mohammed Shafi alias MD Shafi alias Kannada Shafi, 39, a resident of Mangammanapalya, ran a YouTube news channel named ‘Prajaapara TV' and is the president of Karnataka Prajapara Vedike.He had a press ID card of Prajaa Para TV.
According to police, Shafi would visit bakeries and condiment shops with a video camera and record their kitchens and showcases. He would tell the staff that the premises were not hygienic, and he would get the shops raided by the food inspector and shut them down. When bakery owners requested him not to stream the recording or complain to the food inspector, he would demand money which many obliged.
Around 5pm on Wednesday, he visited Lakshmi Janardhan Bakery owned by Javaregowda on Begur-Koppa Road and tried to play his usual tricks.
However, as Javaregowda's wife Pushpa called the police helpline, a Hoysala police team rushed to the spot and detained Shafi. Cops seized his camera, bag, ID card and SUV.
Ramesh, owner of Sri Venkateshwara Bakery and Sweets, had lodged an official complaint with Hulimavu police stating that Shafi visited his bakery a week ago, made a video and extorted Rs 10,000 from his sister by threatening to telecast the clip.
According to Ramesh, Shafi had blackmailed at least 50 bakery owners.
Shafi was produced before a court on Thursday which remanded in judicial custody.