A 30-year-old man, Mohammad Ishaq, has been charged with sexually exploiting a woman sales executive he befriended on Instagram after luring her with false marriage promises that led to repeated physical encounters, police reported on Thursday. The HSR Layout Police registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for cheating, criminal intimidation, and sexual assault, following the victim's complaint. This incident highlights the escalating risks of online relationships in India's digital landscape, where social media platforms facilitate connections but often expose users—particularly women—to deception and abuse.
The victim, a resident of HSR Layout in east Bengaluru, connected with Ishaq, from Sarai Palya in Thanisandra, via Instagram in October 2024. Initial interactions evolved from casual messages to frequent calls, fostering an emotional bond that turned intimate. According to the FIR, Ishaq repeatedly took her to a hotel near Hebbal Dasarahalli, each time reinforcing his commitment to marriage. Trusting these assurances, she consented to physical relations on multiple occasions, viewing them as steps toward a future together. The case underscores a common modus operandi in such exploitations, where perpetrators exploit trust built over months to coerce consent under the guise of commitment.
The deception unravelled in September 2025 when the woman discovered Ishaq was simultaneously engaging with other women online, raising red flags about his intentions. Pressing him for a wedding timeline, she faced repeated delays attributed to family consultations. The breaking point came on September 14, when she learnt of his engagement to another woman. Confronted, Ishaq allegedly dismissed her demands, refused marriage, verbally abused her, and issued death threats to deter further contact. "He told me to go my own way and threatened to kill me if I reached out again," she stated in her complaint, prompting her to approach the police for justice and protection.
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Bengaluru, a tech hub with over 1.3 crore residents and high social media penetration, has seen a surge in similar cyber-facilitated crimes, with the city police reporting over 500 cases of online harassment and exploitation annually. Platforms like Instagram, boasting 500 million Indian users, have become breeding grounds for such frauds, prompting calls for stricter verification and awareness campaigns. Authorities have initiated an investigation, including digital forensics on communication records, and urged victims to report promptly. As legal proceedings advance, this case serves as a cautionary tale, emphasising the need for vigilance in virtual romances amid rising digital literacy gaps.
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