Woman Drugged and Blackmailed for 18 Months After Instagram Friendship Turned Criminal in UP

Police have identified the suspect as Ashish Kumar (23), who resides in Ropanpur village located in Mau district.

In Ballia, a 27-year-old woman was reportedly drugged, sexually assaulted, and blackmailed for over 18 months with an inappropriate video, according to police statements released Wednesday.

The authorities identified the alleged perpetrator as Ashish Kumar (23), who hails from Ropanpur village in the Mau district.

Based on the victim's complaint, Kumar initially established a friendship with her approximately two years ago through Instagram.

The woman alleged that around 18 months ago, Kumar invited her to meet him, at which point he administered drugs to her, committed sexual assault, and recorded illicit footage of the incident.

Since then, Kumar had allegedly been using this video to blackmail and repeatedly assault the victim over the past 18 months. According to Hitesh Kumar, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Bheempura, the accused had been threatening to distribute the video online, as stated in the filed FIR.

Authorities have registered a case against Kumar under rape charges and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act.

Superintendent of Police Omveer Singh confirmed that Ashish Kumar was apprehended in Ibrahimpatty town on Wednesday and subsequently incarcerated after completing legal procedures. The investigation continues to progress.