Mumbai: A 32-year-old married woman from Andheri accused a former friend of blackmail and extortion after he allegedly threatened to circulate her private videos on social media. The accused, identified as Rohit alias Ramprasad Narayan Pandey, was arrested by the Khar Police in connection with the case.
According to reports quoting police, the woman resides in Andheri with her family. During her time there, she came into contact with Pandey, who worked nearby. The two grew close, and their friendship eventually turned into a romantic relationship. They remained in frequent touch and continued meeting regularly.
Victim & Accused Were Involved In 'Consensual Physical Relationship'
A few months ago, Pandey invited the woman to meet him in Khar, where he took her to a hotel. There, the two allegedly engaged in a consensual physical relationship. Over time, they continued to meet and were physically intimate on several occasions. However, during their encounters, Pandey secretly recorded explicit videos of their private moments on his mobile phone without her knowledge.
The situation took a disturbing turn when Pandey began using the videos to blackmail the woman. He threatened to leak the footage online unless she paid him Rs 2 lakh, according to a Lokmat Times report. Distressed and mentally harassed by the threats, the woman eventually approached the police and filed a formal complaint.
Accused Arrested Swiftly After Victim Files Police Complaint
Based on her statement, the Khar Police registered an FIR against Pandey under multiple charges, including sexual exploitation, criminal intimidation for extortion, and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. Acting swiftly, the police traced Pandey to the Vile Parle area with assistance from the Juhu Police. He was detained and later handed over to the Khar Police for further legal action.
Accused Interrogated, Mobile Seized For Probe
During interrogation, it was revealed that Pandey resides near the Juhu Post Office and works as a security guard. His mobile phone, believed to contain the explicit recordings, was seized and will be sent for forensic analysis.
Following his arrest, Pandey was produced before the Bandra court, which remanded him to police custody for further investigation. The police are continuing to probe the case to verify whether similar offences have been committed by the accused in the past and to ensure justice for the victim.
