Gwalior man posed as Hindu to exploit minor girl on messaging app, arrested
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A 25-year-old man from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, has been arrested by Ahmedabad Rural Police for allegedly assuming a false Hindu identity on a messaging application to sexually exploit a 17-year-old girl. The accused, identified as Bittukhan alias Sonu Rahishkhan, was taken into custody on Friday, 18 July 2025, hours after police traced his location through cyber forensics.
How the Deception Unfolded
The accused first contacted the minor in February 2025 on a messaging platform called 'A-Chat', presenting himself as 'Sonu' — a 23-year-old unmarried Hindu man. After gaining her trust, he obtained her mobile number and shifted the conversation to WhatsApp, where he repeatedly pressured her to make nude video calls and to meet him in person for physical relations.
When the girl refused, Bittukhan allegedly threatened to make intimate images public and began blackmailing her. He also reportedly obtained access to her Gmail and Instagram passwords, using those accounts to monitor and coerce her further.
Victim Speaks Up, Police Act Swiftly
The girl eventually disclosed the ordeal to her mother, who lodged a formal complaint at Kanbha Police Station. A joint team from the local police station and the local crime branch conducted technical surveillance and cyber analysis to trace the accused. He was arrested within hours at his residence in Gwalior.
Police confirmed the accused works at a furniture shop and is, in fact, married with a child — details he had concealed while projecting a false identity to gain the victim's trust.
Charges Filed Under Multiple Laws
An FIR has been registered under several statutes: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 sections 75(2), 78(2), 79, and 351(2); Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 sections 8, 11(2)(4)(5), and 12; and Information Technology Act, 2000 sections 66(c)(d) and 67(b)(2). Police noted that no money is known to have been extorted from the victim.
Multiple Potential Victims Under Investigation
During questioning, the accused reportedly admitted to simultaneously communicating with three to four girls on the same app using the same or similar false identities. 'He disclosed that he was simultaneously talking to three to four girls,' a police officer involved in the investigation said. Police have not confirmed whether other victims have yet lodged complaints, but authorities said they will proactively approach potentially affected women to determine whether further offences occurred.
Police Advisory on Online Safety
Ahmedabad Rural Police used the case to issue a public advisory, urging parents and young people to exercise caution on social media and messaging platforms. Officials emphasised: 'Do not share personal photos or videos with unknown persons online. Verify anyone's claimed identity before trusting them. Do not share account passwords. If someone attempts to blackmail you, contact your guardian or the nearest police station immediately.' The victim's identity is being kept confidential under legal provisions, and investigations are ongoing.