Man detained after doc files complaint of extortion

Rajkot: A 25-year-old doctor, who recently completed her MBBS in Valsad, has filed a complaint at Bhaktinagar police station in Rajkot against a man for alleged blackmail and extortion. Police have detained the accused, Hemil Padariya.
According to the complaint, the doctor and Padariya had become friends through Instagram in 2018. Later, they exchanged their phone numbers and were in regular touch with each other.
In 2019, Padariya visited the doctor in Valsad and asked her to maintain the friendship or else he would harm her family. During this visit, he took their photos while being together at Tithal beach.
The friendship continued normally till 2023, when the doctor completed her MBBS and moved to Rajkot. At this point, Padariya told her that she should follow his instructions about her clothing and that she should not go anywhere without his permission.
On Nov 9, 2023, Padariya sent her a message on WhatsApp, threatening to make the Tithal beach photographs viral and demanded Rs 1 lakh. Out of fear, the doctor transferred to his account Rs 1 lakh in instalments.
In Aug this year, the doctor discussed this issue with her family. On Aug 29, around 2am, Padariya verbally abused her and asked her to maintain the friendship. The next day, he posted their photos from Valsad on his Facebook and Instagram statuses and sent them to her family on WhatsApp. During Navratri, when she went to play Garba, Padariya followed her there.
Police registered the complaint for blackmail, extortion, stalking and criminal intimidation under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). They took Padariya into custody and were questioning him.