The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Branch has arrested eight people, including a woman, and initiated legal action against three minors in nine cases involving alleged online harassment, blackmail and the circulation of manipulated videos of women, police said. The action was carried out over one month under Mission Cyber Rakshika, a programme focused on women’s online safety.
According to the Cyber Crime Branch, the accused allegedly created fake Instagram and Facebook accounts, altered photographs and videos of women, added obscene material or offensive text, and circulated the content to damage their reputation. Police traced suspects in different districts of Gujarat and in Maharashtra during the investigation.
Some of the cases involved videos of women performing Garba during Navratri. Investigators found that the videos were allegedly edited and uploaded on Instagram to increase followers and likes. In other cases, fake accounts were reportedly created in women’s names following personal disputes or the breakdown of relationships.
Police said the accused allegedly sent obscene material to the relatives, friends and fiancés of targeted women. In one case, a Class 12 pass accused allegedly sent obscene content to a woman’s fiancé without her knowledge in an attempt to break off the engagement. Another case involved a false social media post alleging that a woman was in a relationship with another person, reportedly linked to an earlier dispute over a vehicle collision.
In a separate case, an accused allegedly created a fake Facebook account in a woman’s name and posted objectionable content along with a demand for money. In another complaint, a man allegedly contacted a woman through Instagram, pressured her to have a physical relationship and threatened to defame her after she refused. Police said he demanded Rs 2 lakh and later collected Rs 1.21 lakh on the pretext of performing a religious ritual. This included Rs 21,000 transferred through Google Pay and Rs 1 lakh withdrawn from an ATM in Prahladnagar.
The investigation also involved three minors from Sabarkantha and Bhavnagar. Police said they used their parents’ mobile numbers to create fake social media accounts and circulated manipulated videos obtained from women playing Garba.
The Cyber Crime Branch said women officers assisted with counselling in the cases. The identities of the complainants were kept confidential, and police registered cases promptly, according to the report. The branch said the action was intended to deter online harassment and strengthen women’s confidence in reporting cyber offences.
The cases highlight the role of fake accounts, altered personal content and direct messaging in alleged online abuse. The police action will now proceed through the relevant legal process, while the accused and minors will face proceedings under the applicable law.
