Former Employer Held for Cyber Harassment in Delhi
In a shocking case of online retaliation, a 37-year-old man from Bihar has been arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly creating a fake Instagram profile to harass and defame a woman who was once his employee. The accused, identified as Mohammad Sahid, a resident of Madhubani in Bihar, was apprehended from the IMT Manesar area in Haryana.
The Complaint and Police Investigation
The case came to light when the victim filed a formal complaint on September 23. She reported that an unidentified individual had created a counterfeit Instagram account using her photograph. The perpetrator was using this fake profile to upload obscene and abusive content and was systematically sending follow requests to her friends and followers in a malicious attempt to damage her social reputation.
Acting swiftly on the complaint, the police registered a case under specific sections of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges included Section 78 (stalking), Section 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and Section 319(2) (cheating by personation).
Digital Trail Leads to Arrest
A dedicated police team began a technical investigation, tracing the digital footprint left by the fake profile. Crucial information was obtained from Meta, the parent company of Instagram, which helped pinpoint the account's operation to the IMT Manesar region. After sustained efforts, the investigators successfully apprehended the accused on October 27.
During interrogation, Sahid admitted to the crime. He revealed that the victim had previously worked for him in his small-scale production unit in Manesar. The motive for the cyber harassment stemmed from a financial dispute, where the woman had demanded her pending payment. Out of sheer annoyance and a desire to defame her, Sahid resorted to creating the fake account using an old photo of hers.
Evidence Seized and Ongoing Probe
The police have seized the smartphone allegedly used to commit the offence. Upon examination, the illicit Instagram account was found to be active on the device. DCP South West, Amit Goel, confirmed that the accused used this device to post the defamatory content. Authorities are now conducting a forensic examination of his digital devices to determine if he has been involved in similar cybercrimes in the past.
This case highlights the serious consequences of online harassment and the effectiveness of modern cyber-investigation techniques in bringing perpetrators to justice.
