GHAZIABAD: A YouTuber from Khoda was arrested after a Bhojpuri film actor accused him of rape and religious coercion a couple of years ago. The accused, who commands a following of over 16 million subscribers on YouTube, was apprehended by a team of five cops from his house in Patna.According to the police report, the YouTuber befriended the actor and social media influencer two and a half years ago, concealing both his marital status and real name. Over the course of their friendship, he allegedly invited her over and offered her a soft drink laced with sedatives.In her complaint, the woman alleged she lost consciousness, but realised she had been sexually assaulted when she came to. Confronted, the YouTuber allegedly pleaded for forgiveness and promised marriage, persuading the woman to remain silent due to fears of social stigma.The situation escalated when the accused took the actor to his family home and married her, insisting that the wedding remain a secret. The woman, according to her complaint, was then subjected to repeated sexual exploitation — including acts described as unnatural — and was pressured by the YouTuber’s family to convert to Islam. She claimed that when she resisted, she was physically assaulted, coerced into reciting religious texts and consuming foods against her beliefs.The woman was allegedly forced to undergo an abortion after being given pills without her consent. The pattern of abuse included threats from the accused’s family and even demands for money, both in cash and online transfers. Over time, she discovered that the YouTuber had also maintained relationships with multiple women and had two children from an earlier marriage.Fearing for her safety, the woman approached police and filed a formal complaint. “I fear that the accused might get me killed. Therefore, I request the administration to accept my application and register an FIR,” she said in her plea.Abhishek Srivastava, ACP (Indirapuram), said an FIR had been registered at Khoda Colony police station under sections 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 376 (punishment for rape), 377 (unnatural sex), 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.“He was arrested from Patna and we have secured his transit remand from a local court. On Monday, he was presented in a Ghaziabad court and remanded in judicial custody,” Srivastava said.(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
