Court frees YouTuber Nadeem ‘Nani Wala’ in traffic altercation case

LAHORE: A local court on Sunday discharged Pakistani social media influencer Nadeem Mubarak, alias “Nadeem Nani Wala” in a criminal case involving allegations of obstructing a public servant in discharge of duty.

Mubarak was arrested by police from the Defense C area following a heated altercation with a traffic warden in Lahore’s upscale Defense area.

Police subsequently registered a First Information Report (FIR) charging him with “interference in state matters” and aggressive behaviour toward a public official on duty.

However, during a hearing at the Cantonment Court, the presiding duty judicial magistrate reviewed the initial police findings and ordered Mubarak to be discharged from the case, finding insufficient grounds to sustain the specific criminal charges.

Nani Wala is one of Pakistan’s most polarizing digital creators, commanding a massive following of over 14 million users across YouTube and TikTok.

Nani Wala first achieved digital fame by creating lighthearted, comedic vlogs and sketches featuring his grandmother (Nani). The unique family dynamic resonated with local audiences, and the moniker stuck, becoming his primary brand identity.

While his viral content has generated significant commercial success — making him one of the highest-earning digital creators in the country — Nani Wala has increasingly found himself at the center of controversies and run-ins with law enforcement.

In a past high-profile incident, he was arrested by Lahore police for using an illegal, personalized registration plate reading “IK 804” (a reference associated with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan) on his luxury vehicle.

His social media channels frequently feature highly publicized disputes with other major Pakistani internet personalities, such as “Ducky Bhai” and Rajab Butt, which critics often allege are staged or amplified to drive user engagement.

His legal team argued in court that the traffic altercation had been blown out of proportion due to his celebrity status.

Following the magistrate’s order, the YouTuber was permitted to leave the court premises free of charges.