Overview

• A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe a racket in Bhopal where minor girls were raped, filmed, and blackmailed to recruit others into the scheme.
• Two suspects, including the prime accused Farhan Ali alias Faraz, have been arrested, with additional suspects traced to West Bengal and efforts underway to apprehend them.
• Four victims have come forward, with three lodging formal complaints under the POCSO Act and the MP Freedom of Religion Act, while one victim is receiving counseling due to fear and stigma.
• Investigations revealed that the accused befriended minors, assaulted them, and used explicit videos to coerce victims into introducing other girls to the gang.
• The case has drawn parallels to the Ajmer blackmail-rape case of the 1990s, highlighting ongoing concerns about organized sexual exploitation and violence against women in the region.