Man cyberstalks, sends obscene messages to 17-year-old, booked

THE MESSAGES WERE SENT FROM A NUMBER REGISTERED IN THE STATE, SAID A POLICE OFFICER

MUMBAI:AN unidentified person has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 for allegedly cyber-stalking a 17-year-old Khar resident.

The accused, using an unidentified phone number, made repeated phone calls and sent obscene messages to the complainant.

The complainant and her brother approached the Khar police on Wednesday night. She told the police that she received multiple phone calls from an unknown number on Tuesday night. The accused threatened the complainant that he would give out her number to other men if she did not receive the phone call.

She then approached her mother, who called on the number. The man spoke “nonsensical things” and cut the call, claimed the complainant.

The complainant said she continued to receive phone calls from him even after that.

The next day, she received obscene messages from him. She informed her family members about the incident. They then approached the police and a first information report (FIR) was registered.

A police official confirmed the development, adding that the calls were made using a number registered in Maharashtra.

The accused has been booked under sections 354 (D) (stalking), 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code and section 12 (sexual harassment of a child) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.