New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS): The Delhi Police is investigating the alleged misappropriation of donation funds for Malviya Nagar-based 'Baba ka dhaba' after Kanta Prasad, the owner of the popular eatery, filed a complaint against Instagram influencer Gaurav Wasan for misappropriation of funds.

Prasad, 80, had shot to fame after a video of him tearfully recounting the desperation of the months since the lockdown was shared widely across social media platforms recently.

Prasad's plight had come to light when Gaurav Wasan who runs a page - Swad official - captured the eatery owner breaking down as he talked about his struggles in a video shared on the YouTuber's social media account.

Soon, the video went viral and hundreds of people flocked at the dhaba taking selfies with the old man and offering him monetary help.

"We have received a complaint and are probing the matter. We will register an FIR after preliminary inquiry and only if the allegations are found true," said DCP South Atul Thakur.

In his complaint to police, Prasad said Gaurav Wasan shot his video and posted it online, asking the public on social media to donate money to the eatery owner.

He further alleged that Wasan "intentionally and deliberately shared only his and his family/friends bank details and mobile numbers with the donors and collected huge amount of donations through different mode of payments - bank account/wallets without providing any information to the complainant."

Wasan, who had posted the Baba ka Dhaba video of an elderly couple running a dhaba in Malviya Nagar, has also shared his bank statement after people accused him of online scam.

"Transparency link verified by bank. Anybody who donated can go and verify and re-verify. Thank you for supporting," he wrote.