Maharashtra Crime: Minor Girl Blackmailed And Harassed On Snapchat In Virar

Palghar, Maharashtra: A 16-year-old girl from Virar was allegedly blackmailed and harassed by a 20-year-old man she met through Snapchat, with the accused threatening to circulate a compromising video unless she paid him ₹5,000. The Virar Police have registered a case and initiated a detailed investigation.

The case was lodged by the girl’s father, a local resident, after learning of the harassment. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused, a resident of Nashik, allegedly befriended the minor on Snapchat and gradually gained her trust.

During one of their video calls, the man reportedly persuaded the girl to undress, despite being aware of her age. He is accused of secretly recording the call without her consent and later using the footage to extort money. When the girl did not comply with the demand, he allegedly uploaded the video to her own Snapchat story, leading to public embarrassment.

The incidents are believed to have occurred between May 29 and June 15, 2025, and the FIR was filed at Virar Police Station on June 26.

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The accused has been booked under Sections 308(3) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 (pertaining to offenses against children and assault), along with Sections 12 and 14 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and Sections 66(C) and 66(E) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (related to identity theft and publishing/transmitting obscene material).

As of the time of reporting, no arrests have been made. Further investigation is underway.