Nagpur: A 16-year-old Class XII student was rescued after enduring more than 24 hours of alleged captivity, repeated sexual assault and brutal physical torture at a rented apartment in Dighori in Nagpur, where she had been confined by a 19-year-old youth she befriended through Instagram and online gaming.
The accused, who allegedly used the fake identity of “Akash Mehra” to gain the teenager’s trust, was arrested by Hudkeshwar Police following an intensive 20-hour search operation that culminated shortly after midnight on Monday. He is the son of a prominent doctor from Thane and the nephew of a senior Maharashtra police officer. A Special POCSO Court remanded him to two days of police custody.
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According to investigators, the accused had cultivated an online friendship with the survivor over several months before travelling to Nagpur on August 1. Police suspect he had meticulously gathered details about her family and social background, later using that information to manipulate and blackmail her.
The girl reportedly left her home on Sunday morning after informing her mother that she was meeting a friend. When she failed to return and her mobile phone remained switched off, her anxious family approached Hudkeshwar Police, leading to the registration of a kidnapping case.
When police finally stormed the rented flat, they found the teenager allegedly handcuffed and tied to the bed. Officers said she had sustained multiple knife injuries and whip marks allegedly inflicted with metal-studded leather belts. Investigators also recovered handcuffs, sex toys, leather belts and other articles believed to have been purchased online.
Police alleged the accused forced the minor into repeated sexual acts, recorded videos of the abuse and used them to intimidate and threaten her. She was immediately shifted to a government hospital, where doctors reported that she was suffering from severe physical injuries and psychological trauma.
Digital trail leads police to hideout
The breakthrough came after investigators analysed the victim’s Instagram conversations and other digital footprints. Simultaneously, Nagpur Police coordinated with their counterparts in Thane after identifying the accused’s family details.
Police contacted the accused’s mother, who called him at the investigators’ request. Cyber experts tracked the live location of the phone to the Dighori area. Alarmed by the call, the accused allegedly instructed the captive girl to telephone her parents and falsely assure them that she was safe.
That call further narrowed the search area. Investigators then discreetly followed an online food delivery executive carrying an order to the apartment, enabling officers to identify the exact flat before launching the rescue operation.
The operation was supervised by Zonal DCP Rashmitha Rao, while Senior Inspector Anamika Mirzapure led the team that entered the premises, rescued the teenager and arrested the accused.
Police are now examining the Instagram chat history, electronic devices and other digital evidence to determine whether the crime was pre-planned and whether additional offences were committed.
Forensic Investigation Intensified
Hudkeshwar Police have launched an extensive forensic investigation with assistance from regional forensic experts.
DNA samples, fingerprints and other biological evidence are being collected from the crime scene, while seized electronic gadgets are undergoing forensic examination to retrieve digital evidence. Officials said scientific and electronic evidence would be crucial in establishing the sequence of events and strengthening the prosecution’s case.
The accused was produced before the Special POCSO Court amid intense arguments between the prosecution and defence.
Defence counsel alleged that the accused had been assaulted in police custody and claimed that Rs 50,000 was seized from him. The Special Judge took note of the allegations and orally advised the investigating officers to conduct the probe fairly and without external influence.
Owing to the sensitive nature of the case, the courtroom was cleared during the proceedings. Following the hearing, senior police officers reportedly met the Principal District Judge and Additional District Judge, expressing concern over the court’s observations and their impact on the morale of the investigating team.
Police said the investigation is continuing under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, with all mandatory protocols for cases involving minors being strictly followed.
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