Class 12 girl held captive, blackmailed, raped by Instagram friend for 24 hours in Nagpur

A 16-year-old Class 12 girl was held captive, blackmailed, and raped by her Instagram acquaintance for more than 24 hours in Nagpur, Maharashtra, before being rescued in a late-night police operation. According to authorities, the incident unfolded in a rented apartment in the Dighori area of south Nagpur, where the suspect allegedly confined the victim against her will and subjected her to repeated sexual abuse. The suspect, identified as Nirbhay Pakhare, a 20-year-old undergraduate business management student, is the son of two well-known doctors based in Thane, approximately 700 kilometers away. Investigators revealed that Pakhare had created a false Instagram profile under the name “Akash Mehra” earlier this year and began communicating with the victim. Over time, he built a relationship with her online, eventually obtaining explicit images of her. These photos were then used to coerce her into meeting him in person. Pakhare reportedly first assaulted the girl at a hotel before renting the Dighori apartment specifically to continue his abuse during his visits from Thane. On Sunday morning, he took the girl back to the apartment, but this time, he did not release her. Her family, including her father, a senior government official, filed a police complaint at the Hudkeshwar police station when she failed to return home on Monday. At around 11 p.m., a police team located the suspect and the victim in the apartment. Upon arrival, they found the girl bound to a bed, her hands and legs tied. She had been stripped, and a leather belt and a knife were nearby. The victim showed signs of severe injuries and pleaded for mercy. The suspect was quickly subdued, and the girl was immediately taken to the Government Medical College and Hospital for medical attention. The police's breakthrough came through analysis of the victim’s Instagram chats and other digital traces that ultimately led to the suspect’s location. Investigators noted that Pakhare had compelled the girl to contact her parents, falsely assuring them of her safety. This call became a critical clue. In response to the Nagpur police’s request, Thane police contacted the suspect’s mother, who called him. As soon as he answered, the police pinpointed his location. Further tracking revealed an online food delivery executive heading to the same address. Police discreetly followed him to the rented apartment before executing the raid. During the 24-hour period of captivity, the girl was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assaults and recorded on video. Senior Inspector Anamika Mirzapure confirmed that the suspect was produced before a local court and remanded in police custody for two days. She stated that the police are examining whether the accused has a history of similar offenses. All of Pakhare’s digital accounts, mobile devices, and other electronic equipment are under thorough scrutiny. Mirzapure emphasized that a comprehensive forensic investigation is currently underway with the help of the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory. Electronic devices recovered from the apartment are being analyzed, along with DNA samples, fingerprints, and other physical evidence. These findings are expected to play a vital role in the ongoing investigation.