The incident came to the fore after the victim’s family lodged a complaint with the CDA Phase-2 police in this regard.
As per reports, the accused Prakash Kumar came across the minor girl while using an online application.
Subsequently, he befriended her on other social media handles and trickily recorded obscene videos of the girl without her knowledge during video call. Later, when the victim avoided Prakash, he shared those videos with the victim’s father and threatened him. He also uploaded those videos on Instagram.
On basis of a complaint filed by victim’s family, police launched a manhunt. Accused Prakash was arrested from Gujarat and forwarded to the court.
The agitators alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has failed to provide security and safety to women of the State.
"The accused in the case should be arrested immediately and stringent action should be taken against him," said one of the agitators.
Yesterday, a woman allegedly committed suicide after an obscene video of her went viral. It is suspected that the youth was in a relationship with the woman and allegedly recorded the video and made it viral. When her family members came to know about the obscene video, she committed suicide by consuming poison.
"Last night we got a complaint from Madhupur village that a 19-year-old woman committed suicide by consuming poison after a youth from Talcher with whom she was in relationship made her obscene video viral," said Sabyasachi Rout, Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of Bantala PS.
As per the complaint, after coming to know about her viral video, the woman consumed poison out of public shame. She died while undergoing treatment at the Angul District Headquarters Hospital at 9 PM yesterday, stated Rout adding that the accused youth is yet to be traced.
Sources said the victim girl's boyfriend, Balakrushna Nayak, who is an actor by profession, allegedly posted a few of their objectionable pictures on Facebook following which the photos went viral.
The actor in his Facebook post has also revealed about their love story and how the girl allegedly cheated on him by maintaining relationship with many persons. The actor also threatened to commit suicide citing that he has come to know about the involvement of the girl's father in all her activities.
However, police is yet to take action as no complaint has been lodged by the girl or her family in this regard.
In another incident, the Commissionerate Police today arrested one Susant Behera who was absconding after circulating a video of intimate moments with his girlfriend. Behera was arrested from Khurda after a complaint was lodged against him with police.
“The girl had lodged a complaint alleging that Susant recorded everything and later posted them on social media platforms. Based on the complaint, a case was registered and the accused has also been arrested. We are trying to seize mobile phones and other devices used in shooting the video. All uploaded photos and videos will be retrieved,” said Anup Sahu, Bhubaneswar DCP.
The matter came to light after the family of the girl lodged a complaint with the Rajnagar police Friday night.
As per the complaint, the incident occurred on Pahili Raja when around seven to eight youths caught hold of the girl and her male friend on the Beach and later attempted to rape her.
The youths then ripped off her clothes and attacked her friend and recorded the whole act on their mobile phones before fleeing with their motor cycle, the complaint stated.
The girl's father further claimed that one of the accused had called her yesterday threatening her of dire consequences if she reveals the matter to anyone.
"Last night at around 10pm, the girl's father in his complaint stated that she along with her friend was misbehaved and thrashed by a group of miscreants. Later, the miscreants forced the duo to strip. They then clicked pictures of the whole act and made it viral on social media," said Sukant Patra, Rajnagar IIC.
Patra further informed, "A case has been registered against the youths. All the accused will be identified and arrested soon. Further investigation into the incident is on."
Refuting any role, Das clarified that he came to know of the incident only after his students informed him. “I have no idea how all this happened. My students informed me about the matter in the evening after I reached home from office,”
“Someone could have accessed my ID and password. There are people who are conspiring against me and I suspect them to have posted the video to malign my image,” Dash said.
The professor said he would apprise the OUAT Vice Chancellor about the incident and if necessary seek police help.
Reportedly the doings of her ex-boyfriend, the video was also sent to the family members of the woman, following which her family lodged a complaint at the Sadar Police Station here.
According to sources, the woman from Borigumma area got married in Jeypore on April 20 last month. Soon after her marriage, her husband received several obscene videos from an unknown number, in which his wife was seen getting intimate with a man, considered her former boyfriend.
A case has been registered against the youth while police have initiated an investigation into the incident and launched a manhunt to nab the suspected accused, sources said.
Mukunda Deb Nayak, a police official said,” A case (64/18) has been registered at the police station. We have begun a probe based on the complaint filed by the woman’s family. I have not seen the video yet.”
A few days back a priest from Laxmisagar area in Bhubaneswar was also held for being allegedly involved in blackmailing a married woman by circulating a video of her.
In another similar incident, an objectionable picture surfaced from Riamala in Deogarh district last month where a girl and a youth were seen kissing each other. Police later arrested the youth in the picture, Hrushikesh Biswal of Kumala village, for making the picture viral on social media. Following his arrest, the youth admitted to have intentionally made the pictures viral after frequent arguments with the girl.
The matter came to light after the victim lodged a complaint at Mahila police station against the priest, Saroj Das of on Tuesday.
As per the complainant, the priest used to visit her house to perform puja at regular intervals. She had given some gold ornaments to Saroj for mortgaging it in bank for cash. But as Saroj did not repay the cash nor returned gold ornaments, the woman reportedly started pressurizing him. It is suspected that Saroj recorded some objectionable pictures and video of the woman after drugging her while she had gone to collect money from his residence .
"I do not how and what had exactly happened as I lost my senses after drinking a glass of water offered by the priest," said the complainant.
The complainant further alleged that the priest then started forcing her to keep physical relationship with him and when she refused, he uploaded the video on social media. Sources said, Saroj had also sent the videos and pictures to the family members of the victim.
It is worth mentioning, of late, there has been a spurt in the incidents of viral videos in Odisha which has also become a matter of concern for Commissionerate Police.
"A woman has filed a complaint regarding misbehavior and some objectionable pictures and videos of her have been shared on internet. A case will be registered basing on the complaint," said Bhubaneswar DCP Anup Sahu.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently had told the Assembly that at least 31 ‘objectionable videos’ from Odisha were made viral on social media in the past three months.
While replying to a question by Congress MLA Bhujabal Majhi, Patnaik had said 124 cyber crime cases were registered in different police stations of the State during this period and 19 people arrested in this connection.
Police today arrested the youth in the picture, Hrushikesh Biswal of Kumala village, for making the picture viral on social media.
As per police sources, the youth works as an auto driver and he also admitted to have intentionally made the pictures viral on March 31 last month following frequent arguments with the girl.
Several mobile phones were also seized from his possession while police have arrested the youth and forwarded him to court, sources said.
Accused Hrushikesh said, "The girl was in a relationship with me. She used to use my vehicle for rent purposes and had taken money from me. For some reason she stopped talking with me. Because of all these things, I made it viral on March 31."
According to the complaint lodged at Kharavel Nagar police station, the victim was offered a chocolate laced with some intoxicant and when she lost consciousness on Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya campus, her obscene video was allegedly shot by another girl with the help of few male students. However, whether a video was made and circulated has not yet been confirmed.
The victim's father said, "When she regained consciousness, she told me that she was offered chocolate or tablet. This is done by another girl student of the institution. Other male students are also involved in making such obscene videos viral on social media."
Earlier, the Commissionerate Police had issued an advisory stating that persons found to be involved in taking pictures of intimate moments will draw a jail term of one year, which can be extended to three years. Similarly, people involved in uploading objectionable pictures or videos containing obscenity will get a jail term of five years which can also be extended to seven years.
As per sources, the youth has been identified as Subasis Routray from a village under Jalalpur police limits of Niali in Cuttack.
"The youth was continuously blackmailing his ex-lover and then opened a fake Facebook account and uploaded few obscene pictures to take revenge," said a police official.
A case has been registered against Routray under Sections 465, 569, 500, 509, 354D, 506 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with 66c of IT Act and he has been forwarded to judicial custody, added the official.
In a similar incident last month, the Commissionerate Police had arrested a youth from Jharkhand for defaming and allegedly circulating obscene pictures of a 20-year-old girl from Laxmisagar area on social media.
The accused Amit Jaiswal, who earlier used to work in a courier service company in Bhubaneswar, was in a relationship with the girl for a couple of years. However, as the girl’s family was against their relationship, Amit uploaded few obscene pictures on Facebook by creating a fake account.
The Commissionerate Police today arrested a youth from Jharkhand for defaming and allegedly circulating obscene pictures of a 20-year-old girl from Laxmisagar area on social media.
The accused Amit Jaiswal, who earlier used to work in a courier service company in Bhubaneswar, was in a relationship with the victim girl for a couple of years.
However, as the victim girl’s family was against their relationship, Amit opened a fake Facebook account and uploaded few obscene pictures to take revenge.
In a similar incident, a family from Khandagiri has sought assistance from police complaining that a morphed picture with objectionable comments about their daughter is doing rounds on the internet.
According to reports, the victim had uploaded her picture on Facebook and it appears that someone has downloaded it and circulated on the internet.
While inaugurating a cyber forensic lab on the premises of the State Forensic Laboratory here, DGP RP Sharma termed circulation of such videos as illegal. On the occasion, he said it is the responsibility of the police to curb such offences and directed all SPs to identify and arrest such perpetrators.
“Some people are engaged in taking picture and videos of various physical acts and make them viral on internet with an intention to harass and blackmail the victim leaving him/ her in mental trauma,” said the DGP.
The advisory stated that persons found to be involved in taking pictures of intimate moments will draw a jail term of one year, which can be extended to three years. Similarly, people involved in uploading objectionable pictures or videos containing obscenity will get a jail term of five years which can also be extended to seven years.
The DGP also advised the general public to report at the nearest police station if they come across circulation of any objectionable viral picture or video. Besides, educational institutions, government officials and peoples' representatives have been requested to create awareness in the society, especially among youths on the illegal act.
According to a complaint lodged by the homeguard, the accused happens to be the husband of Sompur Samiti Sabhya member in Cuttack who has been blackmailing her through the fake video. The homeguard along with her family today met the Cuttack SP (Rural) seeking justice and demanded action against the blackmailer.
The woman also alleged that the video did not belong to her and she is being maligned by the person.
A case has been registered against the accused. Investigation into the matter is on, police said.
"The lady complained of a video getting viral on Whatsapp which has some semblance to her. But she clarified that the woman in the video is someone else. We have registered a case following the girl's complaint and probe is on," said Cuttack SP (Rural) Madhab Sahu.
As per the letter from PMO, the state government has been directed to initiate a probe against IAS Premananda Khuntia in the case. The OAS has brought allegations that the officer has been harassing her and her family.
Earlier on June 23, the PMO had sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of the State and directed to keep the OAS officer updated about details of the developments in the case and upload a copy of the same on its website.
It is worth mentioning that the IAS officer has filed a defamation suit of Rs 1 crore against the woman.
It has been around two years since the female OAS officer had first lodged a complaint against the senior officer on October 10, 2015. But even after running from pillar to post, she has been continuously harassed, she stated.
It has been around two years since the female OAS officer, presently posted in Nayagarh, had first lodged a complaint against the senior officer on October 10, 2015. But even after running from pillar to post, she has been continuously harassed, she stated.
“A very long obscene video footage was sent to me by the senior officer on personal chat. He was charge sheeted and court forwarded but later got bail and was even acquitted. I have been informed now that he has even gone ahead and registered a defamation case against me! I am shocked to know this,” she said.
The IAS officer has been using indirect means of threatening her and her children through other officers, alleged the female officer who was accompanied by her mother to the State Commission for Women office.
Also Read: Odisha IAS sending obscene video to female colleague: PMO intervened!
I have been told that I cannot work in this job! I have pleaded for justice before the State Women’s Commission chairperson. She has assured that the case will be taken up with seriousness
- Lady OAS officer
Earlier on June 23, the PMO had sent a letter to the Chief Secretary of the State and directed to keep the female OAS officer updated about details of the developments in the case and upload a copy of the same on its website.
IAS Premananda Khuntia, the accused, has refused to talk in front of OTV stating that the case is sub judice. It is worth mentioning that the IAS officer has filed a defamation suit of Rs 1 crore against the woman.
As per an FIR lodged at the Raighar police station, one Pranab Chakraborty kept physical relationship with the 14-year-old girl of his neighbour and shot the whole incident before posting it online. The video went viral on the internet. The girl is a Class-X student.
"The girl had gone to the house of Pranab to pluck flowers. The youth later took her inside and made an obscene video with her. He also blackmailed her with the video before posting it online. We demand strong action against Pranab," said the uncle of the minor.
Acting on the FIR, police arrested Pranab and seized a mobile phone and an obscene video clip from his possession. Investigation is on into the incident, police said. "Besides rape case, complaints have lodged against Pranab under the IT and POCSO Acts. He will be forwarded to court today," said Raighar police station IIC Narendra Kumar Majhi.
Police sources explained that they had to submit more number of chargesheets as the time, date, place, date of offence and even accused are different. The first charge sheet was submitted within 60 days of the reporting of the incident in January 2020. Subsequently, additional chargesheets were filed.
The school-going minor girl was staying with her aunt near a stone quarry. One miscreant violated her after making her nude video and blackmailing the victim. Later, the victim's aunt turned villain and allowed her exploitation for four months from September to January 2020. The accused persons charged with sexually exploiting her, shot videos and blackmailed her for sexual favours. Though aware of all these facts, the aunt is said to have turned a blind eye to the plight of the girl.
The incident took a new turn when local District Committee President Subramanya lodged a complaint after getting a tip-off from villagers about the incident in January 2020. After the complaint the victim was rescued and details of the accused obtained. The accused belonged to various political parties who wielded influence on the police.
The investigation was conducted by Additional Superintendent of Police Shruthi and 17 arrests were made in February, 2021. So far 42 accused have been rounded up and are in judicial custody. Sources said that more chargesheets will be filed in the case and efforts are on to arrest the remaining culprits who are at large.
The police are also suspecting it to be a case of human trafficking. The cases are being registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Immoral Trafficking Act, Child Labour Act.
OTV clarified that it has no direct or indirect connection and Simanchal's role could be at personal level.
"Another person, Simanchal Patra, has been arrested from Bhubaneswar. He had given the fake video to another person from another channel which was later circulated," Keonjhar Sadar SDPO, Prakash James Toppo said.
Earlier, a web journalist who hosted the video on a portal was arrested. Two others were also arrested in connection with the case.
According to reports, the youths, identified as Bikas Dutta, Paresh Dutta and a 17-year-old boy, were filming an obscene video of a woman last night. However, when she came to know about the incident, she informed her family members.
Later, the woman's family members along with some other villagers caught hold of the trio and tied them to a pillar and forced to do sit-ups.
Informed, local police rushed to the spot to take note of the incident, however, the villagers had released the youths after giving warning them not to repeat such actions in future.
Earlier, a notice was served to Sarangi to appear before the police for a detailed probe into the allegations levelled by a lady contractual employee of the Ayush Directorate in Bhubaneswar. The victim on Monday had lodged a complaint at Mahila Police Station against Sarangi alleging that the accused shared obscene videos & mentally harassed her.
“When he (Sarangi) started sending me obscene messages last month, I had opposed it. Later since last week, he again started harassing me,” the victim had alleged.
Sources said as there was no dedicated cell to address such issues relating to harassment at workplace, the complainant was forced to seek the help of Commissionerate Police.
Later, Sarangi had refuted the allegations and had filed a counter FIR against the female worker on July 7. Sarangi had termed the allegations fabricated and false and in the counter FIR, stated that the lady employee brought false charges against him so as to cover up the irregularities in her appointment in the National Ayush Mission.
Sarangi had claimed that he was about to unearth a nexus between the Programme Manager at Odisha Ayush Mission, Sushant Kumar Das and the lady employee, both of whom contrived to get her appointed through forged certificates. Fearing ouster, the lady employee had leveled false charges of harassment, he added.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
Also Read: Senior Ayush Official In Odisha Accused Of Sharing Obscene Videos With Female Worker
According to reports, the girl lodged a police complaint after the dirty video went viral on social media. Based on her complaint, police registered a case and nabbed the accused.
He will be forwarded to court today, police said.
According to sources, both the accused and girl had met each other few months ago and got into a relationship. During the time, the accused had filmed some obscene videos and captured photographs of the girl.
Both had agreed to tie the nuptial knot. Later, the girl refused to marry him as her family members disapproved their relationship and arranged a groom to marry her off.
Her refusal made the youth angry which prompted him to upload the videos of the girl which he had shot earlier, on social media.