Minor girl held captive, sexually abused by Instagram friend in Nagpur; one held
A 16-year-old girl was rescued by Nagpur police after being held captive and sexually abused by a man she met on Instagram. The accused, who used a fake identity to blackmail the victim, has been arrested and charged under the POCSO Act.
Why it matters
This case highlights the dangers of online grooming and the critical role of digital forensics in modern law enforcement.
A 16-year-old girl was held captive, her limbs tied, in a rented house in Nagpur and repeatedly sexually abused by a youth from Thane whom she had befriended on Instagram, police said on Wednesday (August 5, 2026).
Police broke open the door of the room in the city’s Dighori area around 11 p.m. on Monday (August 3, 2026) and rescued the girl. The accused, Nirbhay Pakhare, was arrested at the spot, officials said.
The minor from Nagpur went missing on August 2, prompting her family to approach the Hudkeshwar police station. Using technical information, police traced her location and rescued her, an official said. The girl has been admitted to a hospital, he said.
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