Kolkata man booked for rape, blackmail using private photos and videos
Synopsis
A Kolkata woman who endured years of alleged rape and blackmail — threatened with the circulation of explicit videos — has finally come forward with police support. The accused, who reportedly exploited a social media friendship that began seven years ago, remains at large as Bansdroni Police launch their investigation.
Key Takeaways
A man has been booked in Kolkata for allegedly raping a woman repeatedly from 2021 onwards and blackmailing her with explicit photographs and videos.
The accused allegedly met the survivor through social media approximately seven years ago , with contact intensifying during the Covid-19 lockdown .
The most recent alleged assault occurred at a hotel in the Joka area on Kolkata's southern outskirts.
A Zero FIR was first registered at Metiabruz Police Station before the case was transferred to Bansdroni Police Station .
The accused remains at large; Kolkata Police say efforts are underway to trace him.
A man has been booked in Kolkata for allegedly raping a woman repeatedly over several years and blackmailing her using explicit photographs and videos, police confirmed on Thursday, 16 July 2025. The case was registered following a formal complaint by the survivor and is currently under active investigation by Bansdroni Police Station.
How the Case Came to Light
According to the survivor's complaint, she first came into contact with the accused through social media approximately seven years ago, after which the two developed a friendship. Their interaction reportedly grew more frequent during the Covid-19 lockdown period. The woman stated that from 2021 onwards, the accused took her to various locations outside Kolkata on the pretext of travel and allegedly sexually assaulted her in hotel rooms.
She further alleged that he recorded explicit photographs and videos of her during this period and subsequently used the material to threaten and coerce her into continuing the relationship. The accused allegedly warned that he would circulate the content on social media and share it with her acquaintances if she resisted or reported the matter.
Years of Alleged Abuse and Intimidation
The complainant stated that she endured the abuse in silence for years, held back by fear and shame, and did not disclose the incidents to her family. She alleged that whenever she protested, the accused responded with intensified intimidation and threats.
According to the complaint, the harassment escalated recently when the accused took her to a hotel in the Joka area on the southern outskirts of Kolkata. She alleged that he sexually assaulted her overnight while under the influence of intoxicants and forced her to walk naked from her room to the hotel balcony. The woman said she managed to leave the hotel the following morning and returned home in a distressed physical condition.
FIR Registered, Case Transferred
With the support of her family, the survivor approached the police and lodged a complaint earlier this week. A Zero FIR was initially registered at Metiabruz Police Station. Following a preliminary inquiry, the case was transferred to Bansdroni Police Station, as both the accused and the alleged offences fell within that jurisdiction.
'A case has been registered based on the woman's complaint, and an investigation is underway. Efforts are on to trace the accused,' a senior Kolkata Police officer said.
What Investigators Are Doing Next
Police have launched a formal investigation and are actively working to trace and apprehend the accused, who remains at large. The case involves charges of rape and blackmail under relevant provisions of law. This incident adds to a pattern of cases in which social media connections have been exploited to establish trust before alleged sexual crimes — a trend that has prompted calls for stronger digital safety frameworks in India.
Point of View
Trust built during a pandemic, and then systematically exploited through explicit recordings used as leverage. The survivor's silence for years, driven by fear and shame, reflects a structural failure: India's legal and support systems still do not make it easy enough for victims of sustained sexual violence and cyber-blackmail to come forward early. The accused remains at large, which raises urgent questions about the speed of police response in cases where the perpetrator's identity is known from the complaint itself.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the Kolkata man been booked for?
The man has been booked for allegedly raping a woman repeatedly from 2021 onwards and blackmailing her using explicit photographs and videos he recorded without her consent. Police registered the case following a formal complaint by the survivor.
How did the accused allegedly meet the survivor?
According to the complaint, the accused and the survivor connected through social media approximately seven years ago. Their friendship deepened during the Covid-19 lockdown period, after which the alleged abuse began.
Where is the investigation being handled?
The case was initially registered as a Zero FIR at Metiabruz Police Station in Kolkata. After a preliminary inquiry, it was transferred to Bansdroni Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area where the accused lives and where the alleged offences took place.
Has the accused been arrested?
As of 16 July 2025, the accused has not been arrested. A senior Kolkata Police officer confirmed that efforts are underway to trace and apprehend him.
What was the nature of the alleged blackmail?
The survivor alleged that the accused used explicit photographs and videos he recorded of her to threaten her into continuing the relationship. He allegedly warned he would circulate the material on social media and share it with her acquaintances if she resisted or reported the abuse.
