Surat: Varachha police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl after befriending her through social media site Instagram. The accused reportedly lured the minor to a farmhouse, gave her an intoxicating drink, and then blackmailed her with obscene photos and videos to repeatedly sexually assault her.

As per the police, the accused, Hardik Kachhad, came into contact with the 16-year-old girl through Insta around 18 months ago. He initially gained the victim’s trust by promising marriage and introducing her to his mother. However, he then began sexually abusing her, taking her to various locations, including his home and Galteshwar Temple.

Later, the abuse escalated as the accused took the minor girl to a farmhouse under the pretext of an outing. There, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with an intoxicating substance. As the girl became semi-conscious, Hardik reportedly took obscene photos and videos of her on his mobile phone.

Following the incident, Hardik allegedly used these photos and videos to blackmail the victim, threatening to circulate them if she did not comply. He then forced her into physical relations multiple times.

The threats were also made by Kachhad’s friend, Shani, on Instagram if she disclosed the incidents to her family or the police.

However, fed up with the constant threats and abuse, the victim finally lodged a complaint at the Varachha Police Station yesterday. Based on her complaint, the police booked and arrested Hardik Kachhad under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and is carrying out the further probe. DeshGujarat