Mumbai Crime: Two held for asking 10-year-old girl to send nude photos, threatening to kill parents

Officers with accused Sunny Janiyani (left, sitting) and Ajay Mhatre

The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two Bhiwandi-based men, who befriended a 10-year-old girl on Snapchat and WhatsApp, and then started threatening her to send nude photos of herself. Both the accused had allegedly told the girl that they would kill her parents, if she didn't comply.

According to the Mumbai Crime Branch, a 10-year-old girl living with her parents in a western suburb was attending an online class, when she received a message from one of the accused, on Snapchat. The two gradually became friends. During one of their conversations, the man sent her a photo in the buff, and asked her to send hers as well.

When she refused, the man along with another friend, started threatening to kill her parents. Terrified, the girl informed her parents, who then lodged a case against unknown persons at the local police station.

Inspector Mahesh Thakur, in-charge of Crime Branch Unit 10, formed a team and began investigating the case. Technical investigations revealed that both the accused were residents of Bhiwandi.

Vahid Pathan, Assistant Police Inspector of Unit 10 and a team of officers left for Bhiwandi. Following a four-hour search, they were able to trace and arrest the duo, identified as Sunny Janiyani, 29, and Ajay Mhatre, 30. Both the accused are in the cattle feed business.

Further inquiries revealed that Janiyani had first messaged the girl on Snapchat. When the two became friends, he passed on her number to Mhatre, who also started chatting with her.

Speaking with mid-day, an official of the Mumbai Crime Branch, on condition of anonymity, said that the duo developed a close friendship with her, before demanding nude photos. "They had a unique modus operandi. They tried to befriend the girl and win her trust, before demanding the photos. We are now investigating what they planned to do with the nude photos."

The police have arrested the accused under relevant sections of Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, as well as sections 354 (A)(C)(D), 506 (2) and IT Act 66 (E), 67 (B) of the IPC, the officer added. DCP Datta Nalavade said, "The arrested accused have been handed over to the local police for further investigation."

How to protect kids

Don't let them get on social media too early: Experts suggest that parents should refrain from giving their children phones at least until they're in Std VIII.

Ensure they don't share too much: Parents should speak with their children about maintaining boundaries when it comes to sharing information about their personal lives.

Watch out for a possible predator: Kids need to be made aware about the dangers of cultivating relationships with strangers online and hiding such connections.