Delhi driver held for creating girls' fake social media profiles

New Delhi, Aug 25: A 24-year-old man has been arrested on the charges of stalking, criminal intimidation and creating fake profiles of girls on social media, the Delhi Police said on Wednesday.

The arrested man, Akhilesh is a resident of Bhind district in Madhya Pradesh and is working as a driver, police said.

"Akhilesh was arrested on August 22 from J.J. Colony area of north-west Delhi after a complaint against him by a minor girl's father for threatening and blackmailing her," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-West) Vijay Singh told reporters.

The complainant said his daughter was harassed and blackmailed through Facebook Messenger by an unknown person who created a fake Facebook page in her name.

"He created fake profiles of girls and then sent friend requests randomly to other girls. Once they accepted his friend request, the accused exchanged mobile numbers and personal information."

"If he could not meet a girl or his friendship request was not accepted, he created her fake Facebook profile or page and posted her picture and mobile number with obscene comments or title to defame and malign her," the officer added.

The officer said Akhilesh blackmailed a few girls by threatening to create fake Facebook profiles or circulating these in her friends circle or locality.

"He even demanded money in some cases," Singh added.

The police has found around 100 mobile phone numbers of girls whom he had harassed.

Akhilesh was booked under Sections 354-D (stalking), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 12 of the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, the police said.

IANS