In a disturbing case of online exploitation, a youth in Kanpur has been accused of befriending a minor girl on Instagram, recording an obscene video of her, and then using it to extort money from her family. The incident, reported under the Bajaria police station area of Sisamau, highlights the dangers of social media interactions for minors.
Two-Year Online Friendship Turns Sinister
According to the First Information Report (FIR) lodged by the girl's mother, the victim is a 17-year-old student of Class XI. The accused has been identified as Prince Patel. The complaint states that the minor girl first came in contact with Patel on the social media platform Instagram approximately two years ago.
Over time, their interaction increased, and they began communicating regularly through video calls. It was during one of these video calls that the accused allegedly manipulated the minor and secretly recorded an obscene video of her on his mobile phone without her knowledge or consent.
The Extortion Demands and Threats
The situation escalated in February 2025, when Prince Patel allegedly called the girl's father directly. He demanded Rs 10,000 from the family, threatening to upload the illicit video on social media platforms and defame the entire family if his demand was not met.
Fearing social stigma and humiliation, the panicked family complied. They transferred money to the accused in multiple installments using the digital payment app PhonePe. The transactions included Rs 1,500 on July 4, Rs 2,500 on July 8, and a further Rs 900 at a later date, bringing the total amount paid to Rs 4,900.
Continued Harassment and Police Action
Despite receiving the payments, the accused did not stop his harassment. He allegedly continued to threaten the family, pressuring them to pay the remaining balance of his initial demand. This relentless intimidation caused severe mental distress to the young girl and her family members.
Finally, on January 1, the family approached the police. Bajaria police inspector Arvind Sharma confirmed that a formal complaint was received, leading to the registration of an FIR against Prince Patel. The charges included recording an obscene video, extortion, and criminal intimidation.
Inspector Sharma added that raids are currently being conducted to locate and arrest the accused. The case serves as a stark warning about the perils of online interactions and the importance of vigilance, especially for young social media users.
