Teen Girl Gangraped Over 5-Month Period In Maharashtra; 7 Accused Arrested

Teen Girl Gangraped Over 5-Month Period In Maharashtra; 7 Accused Arrested

Thane:

A 17-year-old college student from Kalyan in Maharashtra's Thane district has been repeatedly sexually assaulted by seven men in their twenties during a five-month period after initially connecting with one of them through Instagram, authorities reported.

All seven perpetrators have been apprehended and presented before a local court, which ordered them to remain in police custody for eight days on Tuesday, according to officials.

The case was uncovered when family members of the victim discovered her explicit videos circulating online, a law enforcement official stated.

The victim first established contact with one of the accused via Instagram in April this year. Their initial friendship evolved into a relationship. Without her knowledge or permission, he recorded their intimate encounters and subsequently shared these explicit videos with six of his friends, explained an official from Mahatma Phule police station.

These six individuals, who come from affluent families in the Murbad and Bhiwandi regions of the district, began blackmailing the teenager. They demanded sexual favors, threatening to publish her intimate videos on social media platforms if she refused to comply, the official added.

The men proceeded to sexually assault her repeatedly over a five-month period, according to authorities.

The situation came to light when the victim's parents discovered her explicit audio and video content being shared online. The girl then revealed her traumatic experience to her family, who promptly approached law enforcement to file a formal complaint.

Following their arrest, the seven accused were brought before the Kalyan district and sessions court, which placed them in police custody for an eight-day period.

Medical examination of the victim revealed that she was pregnant. The perpetrators now face additional charges under the Protection of Child Sexual Abuse Act (POCSO).

A police team under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende is currently conducting the investigation into this case.