A 29-year-old data engineer has been arrested in Bhopal for allegedly raping and blackmailing a 24-year-old MBA student, police said on Sunday.
According to officials at Ashoka Garden police station, the accused allegedly called the woman to his residence in September 2025, where he is said to have sexually assaulted her and recorded the act.
The two had first met during the victim’s elder brother’s wedding in June 2025 and remained in contact for a few months. However, the woman reportedly cut off communication in August and blocked his number.
Police said the accused later re-established contact, allegedly threatening suicide to pressure her into meeting him. During the subsequent encounter, he is accused of committing rape and using the recorded video to blackmail her, leading to repeated exploitation over time.
In March, when the woman refused further contact, the accused allegedly threatened and assaulted her again.
Following her complaint, a case was registered and the accused was taken into custody. He has since been sent to judicial custody, and further investigation is underway.
The identity of the survivor has not been disclosed, in line with Supreme Court guidelines on protecting the privacy of victims in sexual assault cases.
