29-year-old arrested for online stalking, sending obscene messages to Mumbai woman

The man, a real estate agent, her obscene photos on its messaging service, asking sexual favours

The Dadar police have arrested a 29-year-old real estate agent for harassing a 27-year-old woman by calling her and sending her obscene messages. The woman blocked the man’s number but he started sending her messages and video calls on Facebook.

The accused, Satish Salunke was arrested following the woman’s complaint which said that she first received his call on May 30, 2018. The woman, an animation freelancer, said Salunke pretended to be a real estate agent asking if she wanted to buy or rent a flat. She denied having any such requirement and hung up on him.

“Later, the accused started sending messages on WhatsApp saying he liked her and wanted to be friends. Seeing her display photo of her and her husband, he started commenting on her relationship,” a police officer said.

The woman, who is three months pregnant, then informed her husband about the calls and messages she was getting from Salunke. She blocked him on her husband’s advice.

By then, Salunke had noticed her username on WhatsApp and using that, he found her on Facebook. He started sending her obscene photos on its messaging service, asking sexual favours. A case was registered at Dadar police station on 14 June under sections 354 (A) (D), 504, 506 (2) and 509 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 67 and 67 (A) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

“After the case was registered, we arrested Salunkhe within four days. He was produced in court and is now in police custody. We are investigating whether he has sent such vulgar and obscene messages to different women in the past,” said Divakar Shelke, senior police inspector, Dadar police station.