A resident of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, has been taken into custody for allegedly posing as ‘Sonu’ on a messaging app to befriend a minor girl from Ahmedabad Rural, Gujarat. The accused, identified as Bittu Khan, purportedly concealed his identity while engaging with the girl, gradually gaining her trust. This manipulation reportedly began through the ‘Achat’ messaging application before transferring to WhatsApp and video calls.

According to police statements, the girl downloaded the Achat app in March, where she encountered the accused. Their communications, initially innocent, escalated as he allegedly began to apply pressure on her to participate in nude video calls. The coercion intensified with demands for physical meetings and a physical relationship.

Threats and Coercion Intensify

Police details assert that approximately ten days prior to his arrest, Bittu Khan insisted that the girl make a nude video call. Upon her refusal, he reportedly threatened to harm her reputation by disseminating her personal information on social media platforms. Despite these threats, the girl initially resisted his demands, leading to heightened intimidation tactics from the accused.

Authorities further noted that Khan allegedly gained access to her Gmail and Instagram accounts without her consent. The girl suspected he shared her mobile number with other individuals, further compounding her distress. This manipulation continued for about two months, during which the accused allegedly pressured her to undress during video calls, claiming he would take his own life if she declined to comply.

Eventually, the girl felt compelled to participate in two video calls due to his threats, which he subsequently used to blackmail her, demanding an even closer relationship.

Identity Revealed and Additional Investigations Underway

The situation escalated when the minor learned from an acquaintance of the accused, identified as Yusuf, that ‘Sonu’ was, in fact, Bittu Khan, a married man with a daughter residing in Gwalior. When confronted, Khan allegedly acknowledged that he was a Muslim and claimed he was in the process of divorcing his wife. He reportedly further stated that he used only ‘Bittu’ on his Aadhaar card to hide his religious identity.

As the investigation unfolded, authorities discovered that Khan was also in contact with four other girls through the Achat app. Police are now probing whether these individuals have been subjected to similar exploitation and coercive tactics as the victim.

Officials emphasised that the accused allegedly employed deceit to befriend and manipulate the minor girl, culminating in a series of threats and blackmail that have left her in a state of psychological distress. The case has raised concerns about online safety and child protection in digital spaces.

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