CBI Cracks Down on Indore Resident for Intimidating Australian Minor Through Instagram

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked Ankur Shukla from Indore, Madhya Pradesh for allegedly sexually abusing and intimidating an Australian minor girl via Instagram. Shukla allegedly coerced the girl into sharing explicit images and videos by threatening to release them to her friends and family. The CBI, using advanced geolocation techniques, tracked Shukla and recovered incriminating materials during a search at his premises.

The CBI has booked an Indore-based man for alleged sexual abuse and intimidation of a Australian minor through Instagram, officials said Monday.

The agency had received the information from Interpol that Ankur Shukla, a resident of Indore, Madhya Pradesh, allegedly befriended a girl from Australia through social media platform Instagram, they said.

In his conversation with the minor girl, Shukla allegedly ''groomed her'' into sending him, her objectionable images and videos, the CBI has said in a statement.

''It was further alleged that over a period of time when the said minor girl was reluctant to share images and videos, the accused started threatening her that he would release her images and videos to her friends and family members, as a result, she continued to share the videos and images under duress,'' CBI spokesperson said.

The girl later blocked Shukla on Instagram but he kept intimidating her using WhatsApp, they said.

''CBI developed the inputs by utilising its expertise to geolocate the accused and to zero-in on his exact whereabouts and also to gather evidence. Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused which led to recovery of incriminating materials like computer hard disk, mobile phone etc,'' the spokesperson said.