ANI News: ANI SCAM Exposed ₹50 Lakh Extortion via Youtube Copyright Strikes

In what could turn out to be one of the biggest digital media controversies in India, popular YouTuber Mohak Mangal has come forward with serious allegations against Asian News International (ANI) — accusing the news agency of using copyright law not to protect content but to extort massive sums of money from independent content creators.

🚨 The Allegation: A Legal Racket Disguised as Copyright Enforcement

According to Mangal, ANI has weaponized YouTube’s copyright strike system to target YouTubers who used a few seconds of ANI footage in long-form content — usually under the globally accepted principle of fair use.

“In a 16-minute video on the Kolkata rape case, I used 11 seconds of ANI footage. For that, I received a copyright strike,” said Mangal.

But that was just the beginning. What followed, he claims, was nothing short of a digital hostage situation.

💰 The “Offer”: Pay Lakhs or Lose Your Channel

Mangal received a second copyright strike for a different video that included 9 seconds of ANI footage — bringing him one strike away from permanent deletion of his YouTube channel.

Then came an email from ANI’s legal team:

Pay ₹45 lakhs + GST as a “penalty” and “annual subscription” fee — or lose your channel.

When his team reached out to the ANI employee involved, the conversation took a more transactional tone:

“You’ve got 2 strikes now. You’ll get 6 more. We’ve filed 8 total. If you don’t pay, the channel goes.”

Mangal shared audio conversations, emails, and screenshots with his audience in a now-viral exposé video. He alleges ANI offered “subscription deals” as a backdoor negotiation tactic to bypass legal scrutiny — essentially presenting creators with a ransom disguised as a license.

📉 From Journalism to Extortion?

This disturbing practice raises larger questions:

• Is ANI using legal tools to silence or pressure independent voices?

• Are creators being pushed into backroom deals under the fear of losing years of hard work and subscriber bases?

• Can a news agency double as a copyright mafia?

Mangal claims he is not alone. Several unnamed creators have reportedly paid anywhere between ₹12 to ₹50 lakhs to ANI to get their strikes lifted.

“One big creator paid ₹50 lakhs last week,” he said in the video.

🔍 The Breakdown: How ANI Allegedly Prices Extortion

• ₹5 lakhs per copyright strike (as penalty)

• Subscription: ₹30–₹45 lakhs per year

• “Best deal”: ₹40 lakhs for 2 years (as offered by ANI’s employee)

When asked for a legal or financial breakdown, the ANI representative reportedly said:

“If I give you the breakdown, then there’s no negotiation.”

Mangal argues this model doesn’t exist in international copyright practices. “Even T-Series, the music giant, only claims revenue — not entire channels or subscriptions,” he stated.

📨 Mohak Goes to the Government

Determined not to yield, Mangal sent detailed complaints — with all evidence — to:

• The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)

• Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

He urged fellow creators to send similar evidence and emails to government officials, which he linked in the pinned comment of his video.

“If this is happening to me, it’s happening to many others too. It’s time we make it public.”

🙏 The Call to Creators & Viewers

Mangal ended his video with an emotional yet powerful message:

“I don’t have any personal enmity with ANI. But I won’t bow down to extortion. Delete my channel if you want. I’ll start again.”

He urged creators who’ve suffered similarly to document evidence, share the story, and stand together — not just for himself but for the freedom of content creation in India.

📵 What Should Viewers Do?

Mohak suggests three actions:

1. Unfollow ANI from all social platforms.

2. Share the exposé video widely.

3. Demand accountability from public officials.

📌 Final Thoughts

If true, the ANI controversy represents a new kind of media corruption — where legal tools are twisted into tools of coercion, threatening India’s already fragile creator economy.

As of this publication, ANI has not responded publicly to the allegations. But one thing is clear: The creator community is watching. So is the public.

Are you a creator affected by ANI’s strikes?

📩 Email your evidence to:
minister.ib@gov.in | connect@mygov.in

✅ And tag @ANI on social media demanding answers.

This blog will be updated as more creators come forward and responses are received from ANI and government officials.

Source / Official Video of Mohak Mangal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL7tCjIQNd8