Navi Mumbai: Panvel City Police are on the lookout for a 30-year-old man from Dhule for allegedly blackmailing and sexually assaulting a 38-year-old married woman from Kalyan. The accused, Syed Awez Syed Arif, reportedly extorted Rs 1.5 lakh from the victim after befriending her on Facebook and secretly recording private video calls.
According to police reports, the accused connected with the woman on Facebook in 2022, gained her trust, and obtained her phone number. He later convinced her to engage in video calls, which he secretly recorded. Using these recordings, he threatened to expose the videos to her husband and children, coercing her into meeting him.
The victim was allegedly forced to meet the accused at Swaraj Hotel in Panvel, where he sexually assaulted her. The assaults reportedly continued at her home in Kalyan and at the accused’s residence in Dhule. He also took Rs 1.5 lakh from her under threats but refused to return the money.
When the woman demanded her money back, the accused allegedly assaulted and abused her. As the blackmailing persisted, she approached Panvel City Police Station, where a case was registered under multiple sections, including rape.
“We have registered the case as per the allegations of the victim and we are looking out for the man,” an officer from Panvel City police station said.
