Hyderabad, August 14: YouTuber Kodam Pranay Kumar was arrested on August 11 for cooking peafowl curry and posting it online on his YouTube channel. Pranaykumar denies the allegations, stating that the dish was made with chicken, not peafowl. He claimed the video was misleadingly titled to attract views and insisted it was purely for promotional purposes.

Pranay Kumar, the accused from Thangallapalli in Sircilla, was transferred to Karimnagar jail on Monday, August 12, after being presented in court. A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act. District Forest Range Officer Kalpana Devi confiscated samples of the dish, which have been sent to a forensic lab for analysis to verify the type of meat used.Telangana YouTuber Pranay Posts ‘Traditional Peacock Curry Recipe’ Video, Case Registered After Outrage.

In his defence, Pranay Kumar argued that the video titled "Traditional Peacock Curry Recipe" was merely a gimmick designed to attract viewers. He maintained that the dish was made with chicken, not peafowl. The video uploaded on his channel went viral, sparking public outrage over the apparent promotion of illegal hunting and consumption of India's national bird, which is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. Praneeth Hanumanthu Case: Telangana Cyber Bureau Files FIR Against YouTuber for Controversial Video and ‘Disturbing’ Comments.

The controversy prompted an immediate response from the district superintendent of police, who launched an investigation in Thangallapalli, where the dish was allegedly prepared. As authorities delved deeper into Pranay Kumar's content, they discovered another video featuring a wild boar curry recipe, further raising concerns about whether his channel was promoting illegal hunting practices.

The Wildlife Protection Act was enacted in India in 1972 to protect the country’s wildlife and their habitats. It protects wild animals, birds, and plants and aims to ensure the country's ecological and environmental security. Violations of the Wildlife Protection Act can result in significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2024 08:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).