Nagpur: In a shocking case of sexual assault and coercion, a 16-year-old Class XII student has accused her garba instructor, his cousin, and his friend of exploiting and blackmailing her over several months, reports Soumitra Bose.
The incident came to light after the minor reached out to Child Helpline 1098, prompting swift police action and the registration of a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other sections of the BNS.
According to police, the survivor met Piyush Ninave (18), a garba teacher from Vaishali Nagar, through a relative during a family function. Initially, the two became friends and began chatting on WhatsApp. However, the relationship soon took a disturbing turn.
The first incident occurred on October 13, 2024, when Piyush allegedly invited the girl to his residence for a small party with his friend Vedant Potpose. The girl was allegedly offered a spiked drink, after which both accused molested her. Though Piyush later dropped her home, the trauma persisted.
On February 16, 2025, the minor’s 17th birthday, Piyush allegedly called her again, pretending to apologise. When she arrived, he forcibly kissed her and pinned her to a sofa. At that moment, his cousin entered, threatened to expose her, and allegedly sexually assaulted her inside a bedroom. The accused also threatened to tell her mother if she resisted.
The situation escalated on October 22, 2025, when Piyush reportedly sent her a video secretly recorded during the first incident before deleting it. Vedant then began demanding sexual favours and explicit photos, threatening to circulate the footage if she refused. Terrified and trapped, the girl contacted Child Helpline 1098 on October 24, narrating her ordeal to counsellors from the Women and Child Development Department under officer Mushtak Pathan.
The team immediately assisted her in lodging a complaint at the Pachpaoli police station, where Sub-Inspector Sunil Tidke registered an FIR under sections of POCSO, including sexual assault and sexual harassment, as well as provisions related to outraging modesty and criminal intimidation.
