Shillong, July 4: Willybert Thangkhiew, who was recently named in an FIR lodged at Sadar Police Station by P.S. Lyngdoh over allegations of cheating people by promising government jobs in exchange for money, on Saturday denied the accusations, describing them as false and malicious. He also announced that he has filed a counter FIR against Lyngdoh and intends to pursue a defamation case.

Addressing a press conference, Thangkhiew alleged that he has been subjected to harassment and defamation due to what he described as baseless allegations motivated by personal vendetta.

According to Thangkhiew, the money at the centre of the controversy was allegedly collected by one of his friends from a family in Ri-Bhoi district, but he was falsely implicated in the matter.

He further alleged that P.S. Lyngdoh demanded ₹4.40 lakh from him. Thangkhiew claimed that after being threatened with assault and warned that organisations would be mobilised against him if he failed to pay, he transferred ₹20,000 to Lyngdoh’s bank account last year and another ₹30,000 this year out of fear.

Thangkhiew said he later refused to make any further payments and instead asked Lyngdoh to provide details of the individuals who had allegedly been cheated. He claimed that rather than furnishing evidence, Lyngdoh repeatedly instructed him to transfer money directly into his personal bank account.

He also alleged that Lyngdoh frequently called him, including late at night, demanding money. Thangkhiew further claimed that the publication of his photograph and allegations against him on Lyngdoh’s YouTube channel had caused significant damage to his reputation and distress to his family.

As a result, Thangkhiew said he has filed a counter FIR against Lyngdoh and will initiate defamation proceedings, seeking compensation for the alleged harm caused to his reputation.

Referring to Lyngdoh’s earlier claim that around 40 people had been cheated, Thangkhiew challenged him to produce those individuals before the police instead of making allegations on social media. He asserted that none of the alleged victims has come forward to file a complaint against him and claimed that Lyngdoh remains the only complainant in the case.

Thangkhiew also denied allegations that he had close connections with MLAs and government officials. He challenged Lyngdoh to produce evidence and identify any public representatives or officials allegedly linked to him if such claims were true.

He further alleged that Lyngdoh had initially introduced himself as a journalist but that he later discovered he was operating as a YouTuber.

Maintaining his innocence, Thangkhiew said he is prepared to cooperate with the investigation and face the legal process, insisting that he has never cheated anyone by collecting money in exchange for jobs.