Bhatkal: Police have arrested a student for allegedly creating a fake Instagram account to threaten women and send obscene messages.
The accused has been identified as Mehran Mehtab Shabandari (19), a resident of Tulsikatte, Kumta. Police said that although he originally hails from Manki in Honnavar taluk, near Bhatkal, he was residing in Kumta along with his mother. The accused is a BCA student at a private college in Mangaluru.
After being produced before the court, the accused was remanded to judicial custody and shifted to Karwar jail, police said.
According to the police, the accused was operating 18 fake email accounts. Investigations revealed that he used to attend wedding ceremonies of unknown persons, secretly take photographs of women using his mobile phone, and later upload those images on social media platforms.
The case came to light after a woman from Bhatkal lodged a complaint at the Bhatkal Town Police Station, following which the matter was referred to the cyber crime wing. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the accused.
Police further stated that the accused used his fake Instagram account to harass several women by pressuring them to send nude photographs. It was also revealed that he had allegedly threatened one woman with dire consequences, including getting her killed by invoking the names of Hindu religious leaders.
Police said that many victims had remained silent for a long time as the identity of the accused was unknown. However, following his arrest, more victims have begun approaching the police station to lodge formal complaints.
A case has been registered at Bhatkal Town Police Station, and further investigation is underway under the supervision of Police Inspector Divakar, police added.