The Cyber Crime Cell of Goa Police made a significant arrest on Tuesday, apprehending an individual accused of a severe breach of a woman's privacy, online sexual harassment, and insulting her modesty by distributing explicit material.
Ex-Boyfriend Accused of Vicious Online Attack
Senior police officer Rahul Gupta stated that the accused, who was previously in a relationship with the complainant, fraudulently obtained her private pictures and videos during their time together. The investigation revealed that the suspect used mobile and WhatsApp numbers 77XXXX53, 98XXXXX14, and 95XXXXX14 in the commission of the crime.
When the relationship ended, the man allegedly turned to social media for revenge. He created fake profiles on Instagram and Facebook, using them to transmit the complainant's private photos and videos to her friends and contacts. This was a calculated attempt to publicly shame and harass her.
Extortion and Psychological Torment
The harassment escalated beyond the distribution of private content. The accused began demanding sexual favours from the woman. Furthermore, he extorted a sum of Rs 35,000 from her. The victim was coerced into transferring this money to two different bank accounts via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
The psychological impact of this sustained cyber crime campaign was devastating. Police reported that the harassment drove the woman to such despair that she attempted to harm herself by slitting her wrist.
Technical Trail Leads to Arrest in Karnataka
Following a detailed technical investigation, cyber crime officials tracked the suspect to Dharwad in Karnataka. A team moved swiftly to locate and arrest him. After his arrest, the accused was produced before a court, which remanded him to police custody for further interrogation and legal proceedings.
This case highlights the dangerous intersection of personal vendettas and digital tools, where private content can be weaponised to cause immense emotional and psychological harm. The Goa Police's action underscores the legal consequences for such cyber harassment and online extortion.
