MUMBAI: Colaba police arrested the driver of a 40-year-old toy shop owner, a widow, for allegedly molesting and blackmailing her after morphing her photographs. She transferred Rs 1.5 lakh into his account and then his associate called her for Rs 3 lakh more to not upload the photos on social media. She finally decided to file a police complaint after the driver molested her, showed the photos to her 22-year-old son who is studying in London, and threatened to kill both.
The accused, Sanjay Chavan, 35, has been arrested for molestation, extortion, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code and sections of the IT Act. His wife, Seema, and associate, one Salman, are yet to be arrested.
A police officer said Chavan had been a driver with the family for some years. After the woman’s husband passed away three years ago, he continued to work as the family driver. “In 2018, she received a phone call from Salman who threatened her saying he had her photos in objectionable attire and he would upload them on social media unless she paid up Rs 5 lakh. The woman confided in Chavan and asked for his help. He assured her of full support and told her to transfer Rs 1.5 lakh to his bank account, claiming he would handle the matter by paying the blackmailer Rs 1.5 lakh,” said the officer.
In 2019, Salman again called her saying he had created her fake Facebook account and befriended her family members. He again threatened to post her photos and demanded Rs 3 lakh. The woman then approached cyber police and the Facebook account was blocked.
“In her FIR, registered on July 18, she stated she was in the kitchen when Chavan appeared from behind and molested her,” said Shivaji Phadtare, senior inspector. During his interrogation, Chavan said the phone used to make threat calls belonged to Seema. Police are trying to locate Seema and Salman.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
The accused, Sanjay Chavan, 35, has been arrested for molestation, extortion, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code and sections of the IT Act. His wife, Seema, and associate, one Salman, are yet to be arrested.
A police officer said Chavan had been a driver with the family for some years. After the woman’s husband passed away three years ago, he continued to work as the family driver. “In 2018, she received a phone call from Salman who threatened her saying he had her photos in objectionable attire and he would upload them on social media unless she paid up Rs 5 lakh. The woman confided in Chavan and asked for his help. He assured her of full support and told her to transfer Rs 1.5 lakh to his bank account, claiming he would handle the matter by paying the blackmailer Rs 1.5 lakh,” said the officer.
In 2019, Salman again called her saying he had created her fake Facebook account and befriended her family members. He again threatened to post her photos and demanded Rs 3 lakh. The woman then approached cyber police and the Facebook account was blocked.
“In her FIR, registered on July 18, she stated she was in the kitchen when Chavan appeared from behind and molested her,” said Shivaji Phadtare, senior inspector. During his interrogation, Chavan said the phone used to make threat calls belonged to Seema. Police are trying to locate Seema and Salman.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
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