India, Dec. 10 -- In a clampdown on unauthorised digital use of religious content, Solapur Rural Police have issued notices to 17 YouTubers for uploading and monetising kirtan videos of the renowned kirtankar Indurikar Maharaj without permission, officials said on Tuesday.

The notices were issued over the past four days, with some YouTubers already appearing before the police to record their statements.

The action follows an FIR filed by Nivrutti Kashinath Deshmukh, popularly known as Indurikar Maharaj, against multiple YouTube channels accused of recording, editing, and uploading his kirtans for commercial gain. Police noted that the channels not only used his content without consent but, in certain instances, also altered or misrepres...