Istanbul: An Indian social media influencer, known online as Malik Swashbuckler, has reportedly been detained by Turkish authorities after a series of controversial videos surfaced showing him making sexually explicit and offensive remarks about Turkish women.
The individual, who is said to be active across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, allegedly posted content primarily in Hindi. While the videos initially went unnoticed by many locals, they gained significant attention after Turkish social media users flagged them for their vulgar and offensive nature.
In one widely circulated clip, the YouTuber is seen walking through a local market with a woman while hurling abuses at shopkeepers. At one point, he can be heard mockingly asking if they sell the Indian tricolour, before launching into verbal abuse—all while laughing and making inappropriate comments in Hindi.
Another video that sparked outrage includes a deeply disturbing comment in which the man allegedly asks his viewers if he should rape a Turkish woman he encountered. This particular clip drew severe backlash and led to swift action from Turkish authorities.
According to local news outlet Turkiye Today, the individual may have assumed he could evade scrutiny by speaking in Hindi, underestimating the reach of local netizens. However, vigilant Turkish social media users translated and shared the content, bringing it to the attention of authorities.
While the Turkish police have yet to confirm the man’s identity or formally acknowledge his online persona, reports suggest that the videos may have violated laws pertaining to public decency and moral conduct in Turkiye. The controversial content has since been removed from public platforms, and a probe is currently underway.
The Indian embassy in Turkiye has not released an official statement regarding the incident. The influencer’s current legal status also remains unclear, though reports indicate that he is in custody pending investigation.
The incident has provoked widespread condemnation across Turkish social media, with citizens demanding accountability and emphasising the need for foreign visitors to respect local culture and values.
Turkish cops have nicked an Indian tourist after he posted offensive videos about Turkey on his YouTube channel, Malik Swashbuckler. He was caught slagging off Turkish women in Hindi, thinking they wouldn’t understand. The videos kicked off a storm online, which got him arrested. pic.twitter.com/jejqwIOi8L
— Julia Kendrick (@JuKrick) May 31, 2025
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Friday pulled up the Navy for its “failure in intelligence” while questioning how a high-rise came up unnoticed in the vicinity of INS Shikra, the maritime force’s premier air station in south Mumbai.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri said it was of the prima facie opinion that there has been an intelligence lapse on the part of the Navy as it failed to notice a skyscraper being constructed in the vicinity of its establishment.
The court was hearing a petition filed by the Commanding Officer of INS Shikra seeking to halt the project, citing significant security risks to the sensitive military installation.
The bench also questioned the Navy’s selective opposition to only this particular building when there are several other residential high-rises in the vicinity, with some at a “stone throw distance” from INS Shikra.
The petitioner’s advocate R V Govilkar said the other buildings were constructed before 2011, when the Ministry of Defence issued a notification, making a No Objection Certificate mandatory for the construction of tall structures near defence establishments.
The court, however, noted that the present high-rise received its commencement certificate in March 2011, and construction began since then.
“You (Navy) are trying to hide grave lapse on your part… lapse in intelligence and security… there has been a failure of intelligence. The Navy has been sitting in its office and noticed this building only after almost 70 metres (19 storeys) had already been constructed till the year 2024,” HC said.
There has been a prima facie lapse of intelligence, the court said, adding, “We are surprised as to how the Navy has failed to see such a high-rise building being constructed all these years? How has the building gone unnoticed? This can only be attributed to the failure of intelligence on the part of the naval officials.”
The bench said it cannot permit its earlier order, temporarily halting construction activity at the building site, to continue as it was passed due to security concerns ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the city.
The court said since construction up to 53.07 metres (15 storeys) was permitted in the area, the developer of the building shall develop above the permissible height at their own risk.
It added that if the court finally concludes that an NOC (no objection certificate) was mandatory, then it would direct the demolition of the building above the permissible 53 metres.
The court also warned action against Mumbai civic body officials if it is found that the corporation has been complacent or has committed a blunder by granting the commencement certificate without an NOC from the Navy.
It posted the matter for final hearing on March 30.
After perusing photographs of the area near INS Shikra submitted by the developer, the HC noted that there are several other high-rises between the structure under construction and the establishment.
“In fact, from the under-construction building, the naval base is out of sight. This is our prima facie view. We are intrigued that there are other buildings very close to the establishment and a threat perception hovers around them too, but the Navy has not done anything about them,” the court said.
Those buildings are literally a stone’s throw from INS Shikra, Justice Ghuge said.
Senior counsel Janak Dwarkadas, who represented the developer, argued that since the building received its commencement certificate in March 2011, months before the notification issued by the Ministry of Defence, it did not require the mandatory NOC from the defence.
