YouTuber Mohak Mangal Accuses ANI of ₹48 Lakh ‘Extortion’ Over Copyright Strike

YouTuber Mohak Mangal has accused news agency ANI of demanding ₹48 lakh to withdraw a copyright strike over a 9-second video clip used in his 33-minute video supporting India's Operation Sindoor.

The video, which had garnered over 2 million views, was removed by YouTube following ANI's complaint.

In a letter to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mangal described ANI's actions as "extortion" and harmful to India's creator economy.

He submitted email exchanges and call recordings as evidence. Other creators have reported similar demands from ANI, raising concerns about misuse of copyright enforcement tools and the need for clearer fair use policies.