Delhi-based content creator Amir Shokeen was arrested on Thursday, October 22, 2026, after a viral video showed him hurling racially charged remarks at a young man from Tripura. The clip drew sharp condemnation from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, and a coordinated police response from Delhi and Tripura, the Indian Express and PTI reported.
What the viral video showed
In the clip posted on his Instagram account — about 1.42 lakh followers, per the Indian Express — Shokeen confronts the young man. Despite the man clearly stating he was from Tripura, Shokeen mocked him, asking whether he was China's president, Xi Jinping. He ridiculed the man's hairstyle and features, called him "Michael Jackson," twisted the state's name into an obscene Hindi slur, and — when the man remained unresponsive to the provocation — touched his private parts to elicit a reaction, The Week reported.
Police sources cited by ABP News said the clip was allegedly shot in Ahmedabad about a month ago, with seven to eight people accused in the case.
Condemnation, complaints and the arrest
Rijiju reacted to the video on X, writing: "This evil man will be punished. There was delay in lodging the official complaint but Delhi Police and Tripura Police will teach him a hard lesson. People who tolerate such wicked behavior in the society are also responsible for the spread of hatred."
Chief Minister Manik Saha directed Tripura's Director General of Police to coordinate with Delhi Police. The Tripura CMO posted on X: "Law will take its course of action." Opposition leader Jitendra Chaudhury of the CPI(M) also urged Delhi Police to act, the Hindustan Times reported.
Complaints were filed from multiple sides: one lodged with Tripura Police alleged racial harassment, cyberbullying and derogatory remarks against the state's indigenous communities, while the Tripura Students Forum Delhi filed a complaint on Wednesday alleging sexual assault and harassment, PTI reported. Separately, Rajya Sabha MP James K Sangma wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 20 seeking an FIR, citing BNS Sections 196 and 352 — plus SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u) if the youth is from a Scheduled Tribe.
Delhi Police took suo motu cognisance, registered an FIR under BNS Sections 192, 196, 352 and 353 at Sadar Bazaar police station, and handed the probe to its IFSO unit. After multiple raids across the city, Shokeen — a resident of North Delhi's Sadar Bazaar — was traced to Karol Bagh and arrested. DCP (North) Niharika Bhatt told PTI that Shokeen is recorded as a "bad character" at Sadar Bazaar police station, with earlier molestation and physical-altercation cases against him. A Tripura Police team is expected to arrive in Delhi to seek his transit remand.
Shokeen's apology and his defense
As the backlash mounted, Shokeen posted apology videos on Wednesday and Thursday claiming the controversial encounter was scripted and mutually agreed upon. "I swear… I don't know where Tripura is… It was a clip made for the sake of fun," he said in one clip, according to the Indian Express. "We know that young man… He works at a friend's cafe. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone."
In another video, Shokeen said: "I apologise with folded hands if I hurt anyone. It was not my intention. I love and respect everyone." He claimed the youth had earlier worked at a friend's cafe in Ahmedabad, said the video was meant as shared humour, that he had deleted it, and that in more than 2,000 videos he had never hurt any community, the Times of India reported.
His apology has not quelled the outrage. Critics argue racial slurs cannot be excused as humour even if the exchange was staged, News18 reported. The BJP has claimed Shokeen is associated with the Congress, while his brother Mohammad Waseem Raza condemned his conduct, ABP News reported.
Takeaway
The episode has reignited debate over racial discrimination faced by people from Northeast India in mainland cities, and over the responsibility of creators who build audiences on provocative content. With non-bailable charges invoked and both states' police forces pursuing the case, the investigation — and any defense that the clip was scripted comedy — will now be tested in court.
Sources: The Indian Express; The Week; Hindustan Times; NDTV
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