The Maharashtra Police, probing the video leaks and sexual exploitation case in the Amravati district, have detained 10 persons for questioning. The probe team has so far deleted 41 social media accounts that shared the videos and photos of sexual crimes committed by the primary accused, Ayan Ahmed, it was confirmed on Friday.
The Amravati police earlier arrested eight persons, including prime accused Ayan Ahmed Tanveer Ahmed (19), who has been remanded in police custody until 21 April. Ayan Ahmed allegedly used a rented flat, owned by Manav Sugandhe on Kathora Road, to exploit the female victims.
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The other accused have been identified as Uzair Iqbal Khan (20), Achalpur resident Mohammad Saad, Ehfaj Khan, Tabrez Khan Taslim Khan (24), Aifaz Khan Manir Khan (26), Mohammad Imran Mohammad Sajid (21), and Sheikh Naveed Sheikh Hasan (21).
A Marathi report stated that Ayan's crimes were exposed after he forgot his mobile phone at a paan shop. Uzair Khan took advantage of the opportunity and stole videos from the device.
Since they had been friends for a long time, Uzair knew Ayan’s phone lock code, Lokmat said in a report. Uzair accessed his Snapchat and was stunned to find several nude videos of girls. He wasted no time in copying all the videos to his own phone, the news report added.
Uzair was already aware that Ayan used to take several girls to Amravati and other places and record videos. An earlier report stated that the two friends even competed to outdo each other by luring more girls.
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Ehfaj Khan, who reportedly runs a coaching centre in Paratwada, was able to watch the videos under the pretext of checking whether any girl from his class was involved in the scandal. However, he then shared the videos with Mohammad Imran and Sheikh Naveed, Lokmat said. In parallel, Uzair shared the videos with Tabrez and Saad as well.
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The videos were in circulation for about ten days before locals took note and the situation escalated into a major controversy.
Expressing concern over the seriousness of the allegations, National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar raised questions about the adequacy of the legal provisions invoked and sought clarification on why more stringent sections have not been applied. She also pointed to discrepancies between media reports and the current status of recovered digital content.
The case has been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Information Technology Act, according to police.
Rahatkar further directed the authorities to intensify efforts to trace and retrieve all relevant material and examine whether there was a financial angle involved, including possible commercial exploitation through digital means.