Ahmedabad minor alleges assault, circulation of explicit video after Mount Abu trip, 2 booked

The Ranip police have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after a 17-year-old girl alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a teenage acquaintance during a trip to Mount Abu and that an explicit video of the incident was later circulated on social media.

According to police, the complainant, a resident of Ranip in Ahmedabad, alleged that she had befriended a girl from Kalol through Instagram about a year ago and they had been in regular contact on the social media platform.

In her complaint, the minor stated that on December 30, the friend invited her to join a group trip to Mount Abu to celebrate New Year's Eve. The complainant said she left her house in the evening and met the friend and a teenage boy, near Zundal Circle in Ahmedabad before travelling with them to Kalol Railway Station. From there, the group boarded a train to Mount Abu.

The complainant alleged that after reaching Mount Abu on December 31, the group checked into a hotel and spent time together. Later in the afternoon, the two accused allegedly took her to a separate room, where they were consuming alcohol. She alleged that she was given a soft drink, after which she began to feel dizzy and eventually lost consciousness.

When she regained consciousness, the complainant stated that she found her clothes in a dishevelled state and suspected that something had happened to her. She questioned the two individuals but claimed that she did not receive any clear response and later returned alone to Ahmedabad.

The incident came to light on March 11 when one of her acquaintances informed her through Instagram that a nude video purportedly showing her had been circulated in social media and messaging groups. After viewing the clip, the complainant alleged that it showed the accused boy engaging in sexual acts with her while she appeared unconscious, while the girl allegedly recorded the video and also assaulted her.

The complainant alleged that the video was recorded without her consent and subsequently circulated online.

Sources reveal that the 17-year-old victim was raped by her 14-year-old friend and 22-year-old Divyesh Parekh. The minor boy recorded a video of the assault on his mobile phone. 

The SCST (Special Cell for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) unit has arrested the accused Divyesh Parekh. Meanwhile, a 14-year-old boy involved in the incident, reportedly in conflict with the law, has been placed under house arrest for his role in the case.

It is pertinent to note that the incident is classified as gangrape because the minor girl was physically assaulted by the accused. The arrested individual, Divyesh Parekh, is a professional hairdresser based in Gandhinagar.

Roshni Solanki, ACP of the SCST Cell 1 in Ahmedabad, confirmed the arrest and assured that strict legal action is being taken. She added that the investigation is ongoing and further updates will be provided soon.

Based on the complaint, Ranip police have registered a case against the two accused under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the POCSO Act and the Information Technology Act relating to sexual assault, exploitation of a minor and circulation of explicit content.