Panaji: In a disturbing cybercrime case, the Goa Cyber Crime Police arrested a Bengaluru resident, Mohan Raj V, for allegedly cyberbullying and extorting a woman from Goa. The arrest was made on Saturday after a strategic operation by the police team.
The case began when the victim, a woman from Goa, filed a complaint with the cyber crime police. She reported that the accused had posted a fake job advertisement for a position at a foreign bank. Responding to the advertisement, the woman was contacted via a chatting app by the accused, who arranged an online interview. During the video call, individuals posing as company representatives coerced the woman into undressing. They recorded the video and took screenshots, which were later used to blackmail her.
According to the complaint, the accused demanded sexual favours in exchange for deleting the compromising material. Over the past two months, he persistently harassed the woman, threatening to make the videos and pictures public if she did not comply. He also demanded that she meet him in Bengaluru.
Following the complaint, the police, led by Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta, devised a plan to apprehend the accused. A team, including the victim, travelled to Bengaluru and laid a trap. After extensive efforts and a lengthy chase, the accused was caught when he arrived to meet the victim. The police recovered the chats and videos from the accused's phone, which will be sent for a cyber forensic examination.
The investigation revealed that Mohan Raj V used VPN phone numbers to create fake Telegram accounts and post fraudulent job offers. He targeted women by promising high salary packages and conducting fake online interviews.
The accused has confessed to his crimes and has been booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including section 354A (sexual harassment), section 384 (extortion), and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. The case is being further investigated by Police Inspector Deepak Pednekar.
SP Rahul Gupta urged the public to verify the authenticity of online job offers through local or cyber police stations before engaging with them. He also cautioned against complying with unethical online demands, no matter the promised benefits.
This case highlights the growing menace of cybercrime and the importance of vigilance in online interactions. The Goa Cyber Crime Police's successful operation furthers the cause for robust cyber security measures and public awareness to prevent such incidents.
