Salon owner used fake Instagram ID to lure Hindu girls, forced them to convert: Cops
A salon owner in Lucknow was arrested for allegedly using a fake Instagram profile under a Hindu name to lure Hindu girls, sexually exploit them, blackmail them with obscene photos and videos, and pressure them to convert.
A salon owner in Lucknow has been arrested for allegedly creating a fake Instagram identity under a Hindu name to lure girls, sexually exploit them and blackmail them with obscene photos and videos, while pressuring them to convert, police said.
The accused, identified as Shoaib Akhtar from Gonda, allegedly posed as one 'Saurabh Singh' on Instagram to conceal his identity and befriend Hindu girls online. According to police, he would allegedly trap the girls in relationships, sexually abuse them, record objectionable photos and videos and later threaten to make the visuals viral to force them into conversion.
The case surfaced after a minor approached a police station in Lucknow and lodged a complaint detailing her ordeal. In her statement, the girl alleged that Shoaib befriended her through Instagram after hiding his real identity and religion. She accused him of harassment, making obscene videos, threatening to circulate them online and coercing her to convert.
During the investigation, police recovered several objectionable photos and videos from the accused’s mobile phone, including content allegedly involving minors. Officials suspect there may be more girls and are now probing whether others were involved in the alleged conspiracy.
According to police, Shoaib runs a salon in Lucknow and lived in a rented accommodation.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) BKT Gyanendra Singh said the accused is in custody and his phone and social media accounts are being examined. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law, IT Act and the Pocso Act.
Police said further legal action is underway and evidence is being collected as investigators attempt to identify other possible girls linked to the case.
A salon owner in Lucknow has been arrested for allegedly creating a fake Instagram identity under a Hindu name to lure girls, sexually exploit them and blackmail them with obscene photos and videos, while pressuring them to convert, police said.
The accused, identified as Shoaib Akhtar from Gonda, allegedly posed as one 'Saurabh Singh' on Instagram to conceal his identity and befriend Hindu girls online. According to police, he would allegedly trap the girls in relationships, sexually abuse them, record objectionable photos and videos and later threaten to make the visuals viral to force them into conversion.
The case surfaced after a minor approached a police station in Lucknow and lodged a complaint detailing her ordeal. In her statement, the girl alleged that Shoaib befriended her through Instagram after hiding his real identity and religion. She accused him of harassment, making obscene videos, threatening to circulate them online and coercing her to convert.
During the investigation, police recovered several objectionable photos and videos from the accused’s mobile phone, including content allegedly involving minors. Officials suspect there may be more girls and are now probing whether others were involved in the alleged conspiracy.
According to police, Shoaib runs a salon in Lucknow and lived in a rented accommodation.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) BKT Gyanendra Singh said the accused is in custody and his phone and social media accounts are being examined. Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law, IT Act and the Pocso Act.
Police said further legal action is underway and evidence is being collected as investigators attempt to identify other possible girls linked to the case.
