If you are stuck in such a situation, here is what to do.

Ms. Anjali, an online arts tutor, found herself in a deeply distressing situation. A man named Mr. Verma, who resides in a foreign country, began blackmailing her. He had taken advantage of her emotional vulnerability after a previous relationship ended, manipulating her into sharing private photos and engaging in explicit video calls. Mr. Verma screen-recorded these interactions and is now using them as leverage.

For nearly two years, he has been coercing Anjali into complying with his demands, which include daily screen sharing and video calls, under the constant threat of leaking the private material. The threats are extensive: he has threatened to send the content to her family, her clients, and even to the family of a prospective groom for her sister’s upcoming marriage. Since Anjali’s professional website lists her home address, he has also threatened to send his associates, whom he claims are influential and connected, to her residence where she lives with her parents. The constant abuse and threats have taken a severe toll on her well-being.

Advice in such cases

• Do not panic. While it is a terrifying situation, making decisions out of fear can make things worse. Take a deep breath and approach the problem methodically.
• Cease all communication. Block the blackmailer on all platforms – phone, social media, and email. Do not respond to any further attempts to contact you. Engaging with them only fuels their sense of control.
• Preserve all evidence. Before blocking, take screenshots of all conversations, threats, the blackmailer’s profile, phone numbers, and any other relevant information. This is crucial for a legal case.
• Do not give in to demands. Never pay money or comply with demands for more photos or videos. This rarely stops the blackmail; it often leads to more demands.
• Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation of come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.

Applicable Sections of Law

Such crimes are covered under various sections of Indian law, primarily the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

• Section 77 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Voyeurism): This applies to the act of capturing an image or video of a person engaged in a private act without their consent.
• Section 85 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Stalking): If the accused repeatedly contacts or attempts to contact you, causing fear or distress, it amounts to stalking.
• Section 316 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Criminal Intimidation): Threatening to harm a person’s reputation to cause alarm is a punishable offense.
• Section 351 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Extortion): Intentionally putting a person in fear of injury and thereby dishonestly inducing them to do something they are not legally bound to do is extortion.
• Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2000: This section deals with the punishment for violation of privacy by capturing, publishing, or transmitting images of a private area of any person without their consent.
• Sections 67 and 67A of the IT Act, 2000: These sections criminalize the publishing or transmitting of obscene or sexually explicit material in electronic form.

If you are the complainant

If you are helping a friend or family member who is a victim:

• Provide emotional support. Reassure the victim that they are not at fault. The blame lies solely with the perpetrator.
• Assist in gathering evidence. Help them calmly organize all screenshots, call logs, and other digital evidence into a secure folder.
• Offer to accompany them. Going to a police station or a lawyer’s office can be intimidating. Your presence can provide much-needed strength and support.
• Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation of come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.

If you are the victim

• You are not alone. Understand that you have powerful legal rights and remedies available to you.
• Document everything meticulously. Create a detailed timeline of events, linking each event to the evidence you have collected.
• File a formal complaint. You can approach your nearest police station or, more effectively, the Cyber Crime Cell in your city. You can also file a complaint online on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in). The law mandates that the identity of victims in such cases be kept confidential.
• Confide in someone you trust. Sharing your burden with a trusted friend, family member, or professional can alleviate the immense stress and isolation.
• Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation of come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.

How the police behave in such cases

Police departments, especially cybercrime units, are increasingly trained to handle such cases with sensitivity and professionalism. Upon receiving a complaint, they will register a First Information Report (FIR) under the appropriate legal sections. They will use the evidence you provide to initiate an investigation. This involves tracing the accused’s digital footprint, such as IP addresses and phone numbers. If the accused is in a foreign country, the process becomes more complex, potentially involving a Look-Out Circular (LOC) to flag them at immigration, and in serious cases, initiating extradition proceedings through diplomatic channels.

FAQs people normally have

What evidence is required?

• Screenshots of the threatening messages, chats (like on WhatsApp, Instagram, etc.), and the accused’s social media profiles.
• Any call recordings or a log of calls from the accused’s number.
• The phone numbers, email addresses, social media profile URLs, and any other identifiers of the accused.
• Any links if the material has already been shared on any platform.
• A written timeline of the harassment and blackmail attempts.

How long will the investigation take?

The timeline for an investigation varies significantly. If the perpetrator is within India, they can be traced and apprehended relatively quickly. However, when the accused is located abroad, as in Anjali’s case, the investigation requires international cooperation and can be a lengthy process. A lawyer can help navigate this process and ensure consistent follow-up with the authorities to expedite the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.

Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India