Three booked for assaulting woman, extorting from her, police on lookout for arrest
A case was registered against three people for extorting Rs 45 lakhs from a woman by making pornographic videos on the pretext of modelling. Bhandup police have registered a case against three accused- Rahul Chavan, Shreyash Patil and Hardik.
Police says that the a young woman was deceived and extorted to by an individual posing as a representative of the well-known film production company. The victim was defrauded of Rs 45 lakhs, raped, and threatened with the release of compromising videos. The Bhandup police have registered a case against three individuals and are actively searching for the accused.
The victim, a computer engineering student living with her family, was initially contacted via Instagram by someone using the alias 'Hardik,' who claimed to represent film production company. He promised lucrative modeling opportunities, citing his connections with Netflix and other OTT platforms, and claimed to have helped many new artists achieve success.
Upon expressing interest, the victim was directed to contact a person named Rahul Chavan. Rahul requested an initial payment of Rs 20,000 to reveal further details. After consulting her father, the victim transferred the amount to Rahul, who then summoned her to a shop in Bandra, demanding an additional Rs 20,000 for creating a portfolio.
Rahul further enticed the victim with a modeling opportunity that promised earnings of Rs 10 lakhs but required a substantial investment. When the victim expressed her inability to provide such an amount, Rahul coerced her into bringing jewelry from home without informing her family. Succumbing to the pressure, she handed over her household jewelry and additional money demanded by Rahul.
The situation escalated when Rahul sexually assaulted the victim multiple times, capturing explicit photos and videos. Hardik used these images to threaten the victim, warning her that the images would be made public if she didn't comply with their demands. Another accomplice, Shreyas Patil, began sending her obscene messages.
The victim was defrauded of a total of Rs 45 lakhs and lived in constant fear due to the threats. Eventually, unable to bear the pressure, she confided in her mother, leading to a complaint being filed with the Bhandup police. The authorities have now registered a case against Rahul Chavan, Hardik, and Shreyas Patil, charging them with extortion, fraud, threats, defamation, rape, and offenses under the Information Technology Act.