Police in Varanasi have arrested Mohd Faiz, 28, after a young woman accused him of recording her obscene videos without her consent and then using those recordings and photographs as a weapon to threaten and blackmail her. The complaint alleges that Faiz went further, pressuring her into prostitution and religious conversion and resorting to physical violence when she refused to comply.
Faiz, a resident of the Omkaleshwar area under Adampur police station, was arrested on September 1, following detailed questioning at Cantt police station, according to DCP Varuna Zone Pramod Kumar.
Mohd Faiz accused of turning private videos into a tool of coercion
The case came to light after a woman in her early 20s approached Cantt police station and lodged a complaint on July 31.
According to her complaint, she had become acquainted with Faiz and developed a close relationship with him. She alleged that Faiz took advantage of that relationship to record obscene videos of her without her consent.
The woman further alleged that Faiz subsequently used the objectionable videos and photographs to threaten her and exert control over her.
According to the complaint, he threatened to upload and circulate the material on social media if she refused to obey his demands.
The allegations describe a pattern in which intimate material was allegedly used as leverage to intimidate the woman and force her into situations she did not want.
Allegations of pressure for prostitution and conversion
The complainant has made particularly serious allegations against Faiz, claiming that the threats involving her private photographs and videos were used to pressure her into prostitution and religious conversion.
She alleged that Faiz repeatedly insisted that she comply with his demands and used the threat of exposing her private material to exert pressure on her.
The allegations are now part of the police investigation.
Woman alleges assault and death threats
The complaint also contains allegations of physical violence.
The woman alleged that whenever she refused to follow Faiz’s alleged instructions, he assaulted her. She further alleged that she was threatened with death when she resisted the pressure.
The allegations have resulted in police investigating Faiz for offences involving physical assault, criminal intimidation and other alleged acts.
The complaint portrays the use of private and obscene material not merely as an act of harassment but as a means of coercion and intimidation.
FIR invokes multiple BNS sections
Following the complaint, Varanasi police registered an FIR against Mohd Faiz under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The FIR includes Section 115(2), relating to voluntarily causing hurt; Section 351(3), relating to criminal intimidation; Section 303(2), relating to theft; and Section 69, concerning sexual intercourse with a woman by making a false promise of marriage.
Police have also invoked Sections 3 and 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, in connection with the allegations of pressure relating to religious conversion.
