The Ahmedabad City Cyber Crime Branch has registered nine FIRs in a single month and taken action against 11 individuals — including eight adult accused and three juveniles — under its women's safety initiative 'Mission Cyber Rakshika – #SecureHerSpace', police announced on Monday, 12 October 2025. The cases span cyberstalking, impersonation, morphed imagery, obscene content circulation, and extortion, with victims primarily based in Ahmedabad and accused traced across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Mumbai.

Key Developments in the Cases

Among the most striking cases, three school-going juveniles — all below 18 years of age — allegedly obtained a woman's garba video during Navratri, edited it with obscene text, and uploaded it to a fake Instagram profile to gain followers and likes. The juveniles reportedly used their parents' mobile numbers to create the accounts, according to police. The woman was allegedly subjected to defamation and mental harassment as a result.

In a separate case, a man allegedly created a fake Facebook profile using a woman's photograph and circulated obscene messages — including references to a 'fixed rate of ₹2,000' — reportedly targeting her after she declined his overtures at a milk parlour in Ahmedabad. Another case involved an accused who allegedly sent nude photographs to a woman's fiancé after she refused to marry him and blocked his contact, with police stating the alleged intention was to disrupt her engagement.

One of the more serious cases involves alleged blackmail and extortion totalling ₹1,21,111. According to police, after a woman refused a physical relationship, the accused threatened to expose personal information about her and her family. He initially demanded ₹2 lakh via WhatsApp, then later contacted her on Snapchat, claiming he needed to perform a religious purification ritual and soliciting ₹1,21,111 for the ceremony. On 22 September, the complainant reportedly transferred ₹21,111 via Google Pay, and a further ₹1 lakh was withdrawn at an ICICI Bank ATM on Corporate Road, Prahladnagar.

What the Police Said

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cybercrime) Dr Lavina Sinha confirmed the details of the operation, noting that accused came from varied backgrounds — including school students, individuals educated up to Class 10, and working professionals with technical qualifications. 'Under this mission, we have registered nine FIRs in the past month and arrested eight accused, including one woman, besides apprehending three juveniles,' Dr Sinha said.

She added that most cases arose from misuse of social media — editing and morphing photographs or videos and circulating them through fake accounts — either to gain followers or to harass women following personal disputes. Notably, the mission has been operational for approximately two months, with an earlier phase recording around 11 FIRs over the preceding two-month period.

Separate investigation teams were constituted for each fake account, relying on technical analysis of data obtained from social media platforms. Teams travelled to multiple districts across Gujarat as well as to Rajasthan and Maharashtra to trace suspects. Police have also initiated action to have objectionable posts and accounts removed from relevant platforms.

Navratri Advisory and Online Safety Warnings

With Navratri currently under way, police issued a targeted safety advisory alongside the operation's update. Dr Sinha specifically cautioned the public against scanning fake QR codes circulated on social media offering free garba passes or discounted entry. 'Purchase passes only through the official websites or applications of the garba venues,' she said, warning against unverified third-party offers.

The advisory also urged women to keep social media profiles private, regularly audit their followers, and restrict access to photographs and videos to trusted contacts. It warned against 'rent-a-partner' scams, suspicious links, and the sharing of personal information or live locations with unknown contacts.

Impact on Victims and Broader Context

This comes amid a wider national concern over cyber crimes targeting women, with social media platforms increasingly weaponised through fake profiles, morphed imagery, and coercive messaging. The Ahmedabad operation represents a structured police response, with confidentiality for complainants built into the mission's framework — a step that officers say has encouraged more women to come forward.

The police advisory was unambiguous on one key point: 'Do not pay someone who blackmails or threatens you. Payment often does not stop blackmail and may lead to further demands.' It also stressed that online harassment is not the victim's fault and that victims should seek help rather than suffer in silence. As the campaign continues, further cases and arrests are likely in the weeks ahead.