Noida man held for harassing woman, threatening her kids

A 23-year-old hairdresser who also delivers groceries was arrested on Thursday for allegedly forcing a customer to strip by threatening her son with a knife, recording explicit pictures and videos, and later blackmailing her, reported The Times of India.

Police said the incident took place in July at the woman’s Greater Noida apartment, where the accused, identified as Gaurav, delivered milk and other household goods. The woman alleged that Gaurav harassed her for over two months using the photos before she called the emergency police helpline on September 2, after he allegedly uploaded some pictures online and shared them with her husband, who works in Ahmedabad.

According to the police, Gaurav visited the woman’s flat on July 10, claiming he wanted to talk to her. The FIR states that once inside, he pulled out a knife and held it to the neck of her sleeping son. The woman alleged that he threatened to kill the boy if she resisted and forced her to undress while recording videos and taking photos.

In her statement, the woman said, "When I refused, he threatened to kill my children. He said he would throw my daughter into a drain. Fearing for their lives, I complied."

Gaurav then allegedly began blackmailing her, repeatedly visiting her flat and warning her not to go to the police. On one occasion, he allegedly scaled the balcony of her fourth-floor flat at night. On September 2, after sending the videos to her husband, uploading some clips on social media, and showing up at her door around 6 am, the woman called the police.

An officer from Surajpur police station said Gaurav fled before police reached his house but was later arrested. "He was booked under BNS sections 76 (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe) and 351 (3) (criminal intimidation), along with provisions of IT Act. His phone has been seized," the officer said. Police are investigating whether he targeted others.

With inputs from TOI