Kengeri rape case: accused behind bars

He recorded intimate photos and videos of the victim, blackmailed her and later raped her at an OYO lodge

The accused in a cyber harassment and rape case was identified and arrested on November 29; two days after the survivor’s family filed a complaint at the Kengeri Police Station. 

A First Information Report (FIR) was registered and the survivor was sent for a medical examination to check for confirmation of sexual intercourse, the police said. Further to which the accused was found and was identified by the survivor. He was arrested and is currently in Parappana Agrahara Central Jail.

Sub-Inspector Ravi at Kengeri Police Station said they received a complaint from Yashaswini’s (24) (Survivor’s name changed) parents accusing Nakul (name changed) of harassing her and raping her at an OYO Lodge in Kengeri on November 26, 2021.  

survivorThe FIR stated that she met Nakul on a social media platform; they started talking and eventually exchanged numbers. He even promised to marry her. They exchanged intimate pictures and video calls, but she found out too late that he was recording her. He kept calling her and when she refused to answer a few calls he started blackmailing her. He said that he would share her pictures with his friends and post them online. He repeatedly refused to delete the pictures.

After trying multiple times to persuade him to delete her pictures she agreed to meet him near the Kengeri Bus Stop.On reaching there, he took her to an OYO Lodge which was half a kilometre from the Kengeri police station and raped her there.

Even later she asked to delete her pictures but he did not agree. He had even shared them with one of his friends. Later in the day she told her friend about the incident, he tried connecting with Nakul trying to know what his intentions were with the pictures. They called him at the bus stop again trying to get him arrested but he fled  the scene.

Her parents filed a complaint against him on Nov. 27, 2021and an FIR was registered. He was finally identified and arrested yesterday. The investigation is underway currently. Police and Yashaswini visited the scene of crime again today at 11:30 a.m. to understand the details of the incident.

Yashaswini said, she underwent a pregnancy and a blood test today at Rajarajeshwari Medical College and Hospital. Since she did not report the incident on the day of occurrence, further tests were to be done.

Cyber harassment and bullying witnessed a rise in the pandemic. A report stated that 5000 people, mainly women were bullied, stalked and harassed on social media in the pandemic.

Nirali Bhatia, cyber bullying expert and founder of Cyberbaap said, they saw a rampant rise in the number of virtual harassment complaints—7000-8000 in almost five months. Verbal/image abuse, sextortion, hacking and blackmailing became extremely common, she added.

She spoke about ‘zero trust’ on the internet. “No matter whom you speak with, always verify and do not trust anyone blindly.” She also said that users should be aware of cat-fishing, honey-chats and people camouflaging identity. “In India, people lack awareness about cyber hygiene, they must use the technology wisely and always safeguard their privacy first and not trust anyone on the internet.”