In a very serious instance and an example that shows how young people are at risk of being victimized both in cyberspace and as a physical being affected by physical attacks, the Vartak Nagar Police of Thane arrested a 23-year-old man for molesting a girl at the age of 15 and blackmailing her over a period of six months by telling her to pay him ₹50,000.
The accused, identified as Prathamesh Desai, a resident of Lokmanya Nagar, was arrested in the aftermath of a formal complaint sent by the victim's parents earlier this week. It is a 23-year-old man involved in molesting a 15-year-old teenager.
Six Months of Harassment
Police officials said the teen started the ordeal in September 2025 and continued until February 2026. Desai reportedly befriended the girl, and took her to separate locations in the city where he sexually abused her on a number of occasions, according to the First Information Report (FIR). Assertively, by manipulating her to remain silent, the accused was able to use a “purported relationship” to get to her.
He threatened to inform her parents and school authorities about their interactions, and so he became afraid enough to collect money from her. The minor purportedly had paid Desai a sum of ₹50,000 in serial installments over the next six months to prevent him from perpetrating his threats.
Confession and Arrest
The continuous financial demands and physical abuse were painful for the teenager and eventually the trauma became unbearable. On March 1, unable to get more money, she finally told her parents exposing this systematic abuse and extortion of which she had suffered before. "They created intense psychological pressure on the victim from the constant threats. After she had told her family the news, they rushed into the station," added a senior officer of the Vartak Nagar Police Station.
Desai has been arrested on Wednesday and has been booked under separate sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the very demanding Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Investigation Underway. And the police are also investigating the extent of Desai’s targeting other minors with similar techniques.
They also are poring over his mobile phone and digital records to determine whether the extortion involved use of such compromising material. "The authorities have also told parents to be open in their communications with their children, and to look out for other signs of sudden behavioral changes or the unexpected emergence of financial needs that may give grounds to suspect the exploitation. As mandated by the Supreme Court, the victim’s identity is protected.
