Bengaluru: Police have arrested a Bengaluru-based YouTuber on allegations he abducted and harassed a 17-year-old girl in the early hours of New Year’s Day, though officials noted Friday that the investigation is hampered by conflicting accounts from both sides.

The suspect, was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and remains in judicial custody at the Ramanagara district prison.

According to reports, as per the complaint filed by the minor's father, the incident occurred around 2 a.m. near Magadi Town. The father alleged his daughter was walking home from her aunt’s house when the suspect stopped his car to ask about a farmhouse party. When the girl did not respond, the father claimed the suspect dragged her into the vehicle, where another man was also present.

The complaint states the men drove to a secondary location to consume alcohol before the friend departed. The girl allegedly used the suspect’s mobile phone to call her brother while the vehicle was in motion. Family members said they later tracked the car and found it had crashed into a shop shutter, at which point they rescued the teenager.

The accused has denied the allegations of kidnapping and harassment. He told investigators he was returning to Tumakuru after filming a New Year's celebration when the girl flagged him down and asked for a lift. He claimed she only accused him of misconduct once her father and brother arrived at the scene.

Ramanagara police said they are treating the case with caution due to several inconsistencies.

"The statements given by the girl's family were confusing, while the accused presented a completely different version of events," a senior police officer said. Authorities added they have yet to record a formal, detailed statement from the minor because she has provided "differing versions" of the night's events so far.

In addition to the YouTuber, the girl’s family has filed complaints against the second man in the car and the owner of the farmhouse where the YouTuber had been filming.

The investigation remains ongoing as police analyze mobile phone data and local surveillance footage to reconcile the conflicting testimonies.