Woman gets ‘online gifts’ after break-up

Kolkata: The Bansdroni police have initiated an investigation into a complex case involving cyber harassment, financial fraud, and extortion, following a formal complaint filed by a local woman. The victim has allegedl that she was initially targeted and exploited under the false pretence of marriage.According to police, the complainant first connected with the primary suspect on social media about a year-and-a half ago. After building a close relationship, the man repeatedly promised to marry her and even visited her family in Kolkata. However, the victim later discovered that the man was simultaneously maintaining romantic relationships with several other women across different cities using the exact same marriage promises.The victim said that following her father’s death, the suspect took advantage of her emotional vulnerability to financially exploit her. He allegedly induced her to hand over an expensive smartphone, a tablet, and approximately Rs 3 lakh in cash. Furthermore, when the victim became pregnant, the suspect allegedly coerced her into terminating the pregnancy against her will.The situation escalated after the victim ended the relationship and demanded the return of her money and electronic items.

The primary suspect, along with his associates, allegedly launched a coordinated harassment campaign. An associate lured the victim to Mumbai under the false promise of returning her belongings, only to subject her to severe tracking and mental trauma upon arrival.Following her return to Kolkata, the harassment turned into a relentless cyber-crimes campaign. The associates repeatedly booked unauthorized late-night cab rides and food deliveries to her house to cause public disturbance.

Delivery personnel were allegedly used as a medium to insult her character using obscene language during phone calls.The intimidation peaked in July, when one associate contacted the victim’s kin, claiming to possess her private photographs. The suspects threatened to distribute these intimate photos to her relatives and on social media unless they were paid extortion money. It was also discovered that the suspects hacked her email account to steal personal media and create fake social media profiles to defame her.The Kolkata Police have registered the case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.Investigators are now coordinating with the Mumbai Police, where another woman has filed a similar fraud complaint against the same individual, to try and unearth the organized racket.