A law student in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, suffered a horrific gang rape earlier this year, orchestrated by four men, including her boyfriend. The assailants not only subjected her to the brutal attack but also exploited her by using intimate videos captured during the assault to blackmail her. Police have confirmed that all the individuals involved have been arrested.
Devastated by the assault, the victim, who was left traumatized, attempted to take her own life. Fortunately, her father intervened in time to save her. A comprehensive case has been filed against the perpetrators under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act, including Section 67(A), which criminalizes the sharing of explicit material without consent.
Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Shanka Brata Bagchi confirmed that the accused include the victim’s boyfriend, Vamsi, and three of his friends. The two had been in a relationship for over a year. On August 13, 2024, Vamsi took the victim to his friend’s room in Krishna Nagar, Visakhapatnam, where she was sexually assaulted. During the assault, one of the men filmed the attack.
Following the assault, Vamsi and his associates used the video as leverage, blackmailing the victim into further exploitation, threatening to release the footage unless she complied.
Overwhelmed by the trauma, the victim attempted suicide on November 18, but her father managed to prevent the tragic outcome. Eventually, she confided in her family about the horrifying ordeal, which prompted them to file a police report.
The four accused were arrested on Tuesday, and authorities have pledged to pursue justice for the victim.
The ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has condemned the opposition TDP government’s handling of the case, highlighting the persistent issue of violence against women in the state. The party has raised serious concerns over the growing number of such incidents, urging stronger measures to address the increasing vulnerability of women under the current administration.
