In a disturbing incident, a case has been registered by the police against an Instagram influencer and his driver for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman from Nashik, under the pretext of offering her a job at Mumbai's international airport.
The incident allegedly occurred between February 16 and March 29, according to an official statement made on Wednesday.
The primary accused, Surendra Patil, a resident of Thakurli near Dombivli, is known for his social media presence through short videos on Instagram.
The victim, in her complaint at the Manpada police station, accused Patil of sexual assault, threats, and intimidation.
According to the FIR, the woman became acquainted with Patil via Instagram. She claims that Patil invited her to his office, where he allegedly assaulted her at gunpoint and threatened to harm her parents if she did not comply.
On March 29, Patil reportedly threatened to release incriminating audio and video recordings of her on social media, attempted to molest her when she resisted entry into his office, and subjected her to additional abuse with his driver.
The authorities have charged Patil and his driver under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including section 64 (rape), section 74 (assault or use of criminal force to outrage a woman's modesty), section 115 (2) (causing hurt), section 351(2) (criminal conspiracy), and section 3(5) (common intention), along with relevant sections of the Arms Act.
Patil, however, refuted the claims, labeling them as false and an attempt to extort money from him.
He is also currently under scrutiny for allegedly misusing a licensed firearm, filming videos while seated in a senior police officer's chair at the Manpada police station, and showcasing substantial amounts of cash in his online content, according to police sources.
The case shines a spotlight on the broader issues of online deception and the misuse of social media platforms for criminal activities.