Pune: Woman met man on Instagram, he raped her
On Tuesday evening, Pune's Pimpri-Chinchwad Police booked a 22-year-old man, identified as Vishal Navalkishore Bunde, for allegedly raping a woman. Reportedly, the two had met on Instagram, a popular photo and video-sharing platform. Although Pimpri Police have registered a case against Vishal, he has not been arrested yet. Apparently, he has fled to Bengaluru. Here's what went down.
In her complaint, the 23-year-old woman alleged that since March, Vishal had been calling her to various hotels in the city as well as in Mumbai. The accused had forced himself on the victim after promising to marry her. Speaking on the case, sub-inspector, UP Deshmukh, informed that the victim is a fashion designing student in Pune while Vishal worked in the equestrian industry.
Before filing the complaint, the woman even visited Vishal's residence at Santoshi Mata cooperative housing society in Mumbai Central with a marriage proposal. However, Vishal declined it and was supported by his parents, who allegedly abused the woman. The complainant, who is a second-year student, lives with her grandmother, father, and stepmother.
Notably, police have registered a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 376 (punishment for rape), 376(2)(n) (taking advantage of a woman), 504 (insulting with an intention to provoke breach of trust). Further investigation is underway.
While social media has its own perks, it comes with a fair share of cons too. And friendship with strangers on such platforms can take a completely wrong turn. In 2018, a 15-year-old girl from Surat, Gujarat, was allegedly gang-raped by five men multiple times. Reportedly, she had met one of them on Instagram, who blackmailed her with her morphed images.
