The Kerala police has issued a lookout notice against popular YouTube vlogger Shakir Suban known as ‘Mallu Traveler’ for allegedly harassing a Saudi woman. The vlogger, who is currently in Canada, has denied the allegations.
A case was registered against Suban after the woman filed a complaint alleging that the vlogger molested her when she met him at a hotel in Kochi on September 13 for an interview.
A case under section 354 (Outraging the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against the vlogger, who has over 2.71 million followers on YouTube. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly attempted to outrage the modesty of the foreign national, PTI stated.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel earlier this month, Suban refuted the allegations and claimed that the woman and her partner met him at the hotel to request for financial assistance. The vlogger, with over 2.2 million followers on Instagram, said that woman got in touch with him through the social media platform.
According to the woman’s account, Suban molested her when her partner briefly left the room, New Indian Express reported.
The YouTuber, who once worked as a salesman in UAE’s Dubai, rose to instant fame with his vlogs on budget travel across the world. Speaking to the Gulf News when he was invited back to Dubai to promote post-pandemic tourism in 2020, Suban recalled the days he worked as a newspaper boy and supermarket delivery staff. “I was penniless when I started off my first trip. Now I am building my house with the money I am earning through my videos,” he said.