West Bengal woman's bathroom video used for extortion, faces rape threats

• A woman in Kolkata was allegedly raped and blackmailed by a young man who filmed her while she was bathing
• The victim endured the abuse until she reported the incident to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused
• The accused confessed to his crime and has been remanded in police custody under the POCSO Act

In a disturbing incident of sexual assault, a young man has been accused of raping a woman over a period of several days by exploiting a video he made of her while she was taking a bath. The accused allegedly used this footage to blackmail and threaten the victim.

The victim, a 35-year-old woman residing in the Sinthi area of Kolkata, endured the torment until she reached a breaking point and decided to seek help from the police. Acting upon her complaint, the authorities promptly arrested the accused from the Dum Dum area.

During the court proceedings at Sealdah, the accused confessed to his crime. The judge ordered him to be remanded in police custody until July 7. The police have registered a case against him under the POCSO Act, which provides protection to children from sexual offenses, as the victim's rights were violated.

According to the police investigation, the victim had aspirations of becoming financially independent and had purchased a sewing machine in 2020. As her husband worked as a driver, she often found herself alone at home. To combat loneliness and establish her independence, she began sewing.

It was during this time that the accused, a sewing machine mechanic, started visiting her residence to service the sewing machine. However, one fateful day, he entered her home without prior notice. Unaware of his presence, the woman was taking a bath in the bathroom. Exploiting the situation, the accused surreptitiously recorded a video of her while she was naked.

Upon finishing her bath, the woman discovered the accused watching the video on his mobile phone. Shocked and helpless, she became a victim of blackmail and rape. The accused allegedly took her to various hotels in the Sealdah and Barrackpore sub-divisions of Kolkata, where he continued to assault her.

Unable to endure the relentless harassment any longer, the brave victim mustered the courage to file a written complaint against the accused at Sinthi police station on June 27. Subsequently, the police took swift action, apprehending the accused and initiating legal proceedings against him.