Gujarat: Man held for sexually assaulting minor, extorting valuables worth Rs 46 lakh through photo threats
Gujarat: Man held for sexually assaulting minor, extorting valuables worth Rs 46 lakh through photo threats Valsad (Gujarat), Nov 2 (IANS) A 21-year-old man was arrested by Gujarat’s Dungri police in Valsad district for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl, threatening to circulate photographs of the incident and extorting Rs 2.61 lakh in cash and gold ornaments worth around Rs 43.48 lakh from her, police said on Monday.
The accused, identified as Dhruvil Patel, a resident of Shankartalav Mandir Faliya in Valsad, was arrested on October 29, approximately 10 days after the girl’s family lodged a complaint on October 19. According to the complaint, Patel allegedly lured the girl away from her guardians on August 31 and September 26 and took her to Hotel Aamantran on Tithal Road in Valsad.
“He sexually assaulted her against her wishes and took photographs of the incident. He subsequently threatened to circulate the photographs and defame her, using them to intimidate her into arranging money and valuables from her home,” officials said.
Police said the accused allegedly obtained Rs 2.61 lakh in cash on different occasions and various gold ornaments weighing approximately 32.4 tolas, valued at Rs 43.48 lakh. Following the registration of a case under Sections 308(2), 64(2)(m) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and Sections 4 and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, a team led by Dungri Police Inspector U H Patel began efforts to trace the accused using technical analysis and human intelligence.
Police said Assistant Sub-Inspector Hirenbhai Patel received a tip-off about the accused, following which a team was dispatched to the location and apprehended him. He was subsequently brought to Dungri police station and arrested on October 29.
During police remand, investigators recovered gold ornaments weighing approximately 15.33 tolas, valued at Rs 19.54 lakh, along with Rs 5,000 in cash and a mobile phone worth Rs 5,000. A SIM card and a diary were also seized.
The total value of the recovered property was estimated at Rs 19.64 lakh. The operation was carried out under the supervision of senior officials. Further investigation is underway.
