100 videos, 4 arrests, 47-member SIT: How Amravati sex abuse scandal widened after kingpin Ayan Ahmed’s arrest

By: Anil Jadhav

AMRAVATI/NAGPUR: Police action intensified on Wednesday in the Paratwada sex abuse and viral videos case, with the constitution of a 47-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) and arrest of three more accused, taking the count to four since the scandal broke. All held in Paratwada — epicentre of the scandal — have been remanded in police custody till April 21, while two more suspects under the radar are likely to be arrested soon.

The SIT, headed by assistant superintendent of police, Shubham Kumar, includes 10 police officers and 36 personnel who have been roped in from the crime branch and cyber cell. The move comes a day after the arrest of the key accused, 19-year-old Ayan Ahmed, as the probe widened to track accomplices and the circulation network of videos. The accused allegedly lured women, many of them minors, into relationships, sexually exploited them in a rented room in Amravati city, and recorded at 100 obscene videos that were later circulated on social media.

Police said, besides the kingpin Ayan Ahmed, who was nabbed on Tuesday, three others were arrested on Wednesday. They include Uzair Khan Iqbal Khan, Mohd Saad Mohd Sabir, and Tarbez Khan Tasleem Khan — all accused of circulating the obscene videos.

Vishal Anand, SP, Amravati, said police have seized multiple electronic devices in the course of their investigation. "We now have around 10 mobile phones, which will be sent for forensic examination," he said.

Police, through their informer network, identified eight survivors, who were seen in the viral videos. "We are working on tracing more victims. Through our women staff, we have contacted the survivors' family members and requested them to come forward. Their statements would be recorded in full confidentiality, and the probe will move forward if more victims come forward," said Anand.

He added that families have been told that a meeting could be arranged at a neutral venue, or even at one of their choice, where women officers in civil dress will come to record statements.

The cyber cell has taken down several Telegram channels where viral videos were circulating. "We are constantly identifying and deleting the online source," said a police officer.

Cops are also verifying whether any victim is missing or if any suicide is linked to the case, which could then lead to more offences being registered. "That is why it's important for victims to come forward and tell us what happened. Then we can add more sections in the FIR or expand the scope of investigation," said Anand.

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