September 1, 2025

Imagine a peaceful neighborhood in Dombivli turning into a drama stage of fear and blackmail! A 15-year-old Class 11 girl from an upscale society got caught in a nasty trap on Instagram, police reveal. Her father, who works far away in South Africa, had gifted her a smartphone to keep in touch. The girl downloaded Instagram despite her mother advising against it. Soon, she met Chirag Gawande on the app. The story took a dark turn when Gawande cleverly gained her trust. The victim’s mother shared in her complaint that "Gawande gradually gained her daughter's trust and managed to obtain her Instagram ID and password." Then, the chilling threats began. Gawande started blackmailing the girl, saying, "I have some of your photos and also your password. If you don't send me a semi-nude video, I will upload your pictures on Instagram and ruin your reputation." Scared, the girl sent him the video. But it didn't stop there! The police said, "Accused then forwarded the obscene video to the girl's father on Instagram." He even called the father saying, "I have semi-nude videos of your daughter. Now let's talk business," demanding money in exchange for silence. When the father told the mother, she rushed to Manpada Police Station to file a complaint. With no time to lose, cops took strong action. They filed a case against Chirag Gawande under the IPC and POCSO Act, marking it as a serious crime. Senior Police Inspector Sandipan Shinde announced, "We have come to know accused stays in Navi Mumbai and our team is searching for him." The hunt is on in the cyber maze! This case is a sharp reminder of the dangers children face on social media and how important it is to stay alert. Thane police’s swift steps send a stern warning to cyber criminals: justice will catch you, no matter where you hide!

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Tags: Blackmail, Instagram, Minor, Cybercrime, Pocso, Thane,