A woman accused a Bengaluru resident of deceiving her with a false promise of marriage, sexually exploiting her, secretly recording intimate moments, and threatening her with dire consequences if she disclosed the alleged abuse in a case filed against him.
The accused has been identified as Chetan Kumar, and an FIR has been filed at the MICO Layout Police Station based on the woman’s complaint. Police have opened an investigation into the allegations.
The woman said she knew the accused as she is the younger sister of one of his friends. Chetan Kumar gradually gained her trust by repeatedly assuring her that he would marry her. Believing his promises, she entered into a relationship with him.
The complainant also told her that the accused took her to a resort, and there he had a physical relationship with her on the pretext of marriage. She said he had recorded their private moments on his mobile phone without her knowledge or consent.
The woman claimed that she later became pregnant during their relationship. The accused allegedly forced or persuaded her to end the pregnancy, causing her significant emotional and physical trauma, according to her complaint.
The complainant has also accused the man of criminal intimidation. She said that he later met her and threatened to kill her. She also said he warned her not to talk about the incident and also threatened to circulate her private photos and videos if she spoke to the police or took legal action.
Based on the complaint, the police have registered a case against the accused under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other applicable laws for cheating under the false promise of marriage, sexual offences, criminal intimidation, causing miscarriage without consent, where applicable, and violations relating to recording and threatening to publish private images.
The police said the investigation is in its preliminary stages. They’re going to take statements from the complainant, look at digital evidence, verify the allegations, and collect relevant medical and forensic records.
The police have not said whether the accused has been arrested or has been given a notice to appear for questioning.
It should be noted that the FIR allegations are based on the complainant's account of events. The accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Police will investigate the facts, see what evidence is available and take proper legal action.
This case once more illustrates the increasing number of accusations of exploitation under the pretext of marriage, digital privacy violations, and criminal intimidation. Legal experts counsel people in similar situations to come forward immediately to law enforcement and take all evidence (texts, pictures, videos, and medical records) with them.
Further details will be revealed as the investigation progresses.
