Man arrested in Kochi over alleged rape and blackmail of transwoman
Police in Kochi arrested a 21-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting and blackmailing a transwoman he allegedly met through social media. The Hindu reports that the accused was also alleged to have recorded videos and extorted ₹1.18 lakh by threatening to circulate them.
Police in Kochi have arrested a 21-year-old man accused of raping and blackmailing a transwoman, The Hindu reports. The Palarivattom police identified the arrested man as Muhammed Shafil of Tanur in Malappuram. The alleged assault took place in July, according to the police.
Police said Shafil had befriended the survivor through social media. He is accused of sexually assaulting the transwoman, recording videos and demanding money by threatening to circulate the recordings on social media. The alleged extortion amounted to ₹1.18 lakh, the report said.
The police account did not provide further details about how the money was transferred or over what period the alleged demands were made. The Hindu reported that the accused had previously been out on bail in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The report did not provide details of that earlier case.
Shafil was produced before the Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Court. The court remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. The allegations have not been tested in court.
The supplied report did not include a statement from the accused or information about further investigation, charges filed or the survivor’s current condition.
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