A Class 12 girl in Maharashtra’s Nagpur was allegedly held captive by a man she befriended on Instagram for almost a day, during which she was repeatedly sexually asssaulted and was filmed; an incident which has sent ripples across the city, police reported on Wednesday.

The untoward incident unfolded at a rented flat in Dighori area, which falls in the Southern part of the city. Police said the girl was rescued late Monday night, and the accused, identified as Nirbhay Pakhare (20), a student in Business Management and the son of two prominent doctors in Thane, was arrested. 

Pakhare befriended girl on Instagram

According to investigating police personnel, Pakhare created a fake Instagram profile earlier under the name ‘Akash Mehra’ in 2025, and connected with the girl. After he managed to strike off a good friendship with her, he obtained her explicit pictures, which he used to blackmail her into meeting him in person. 

As per police, Pakhare had earlier assaulted the girl sexually at a hotel in Nagpur and later rented the Dighori apartment specifically to continue abusing her during his trips from Thane. 

Girl held captive in recent assault, raped, filmed for 24 hours

Tragedy befell the girl after a string of sexual assault incidents, as Pakhare again brought her to the rented accommodation on Sunday morning, but this time, he didn’t let her break free. After the girl’s father, a senior government official, lodged a police complaint at the Hudkeshwar police station when she did not return home on Monday, a police team traced the girl to the apartment at 11 pm on Monday.

However, the cops, upon entering the flat, stumbled upon a harrowing sight; the disrobed girl, her hands and legs tied to the bed and the accused with a leather belt in his hand, along with a knife placed next to the bed. She bore multiple injury marks on her body and was pleading with the accused for mercy.

A cop, requesting anonymity, said she broke down when she saw the police personnel. 

Accused arrested, girl sent to Govt hospital for treatment

Subsequently, the cops overpowered the accused and took him into custody, while the girl was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment. According to police, a breakthrough came to them in a manner reminiscent of a Bollywood movie. The cops analysed her Instagram chats and other digital footprints, which led them to the house of the accused in Thane. Upon their arrival at the Thane residence, the cops got in touch with Thane police, who requested the mother of the accused to call him. No sooner did he answer the phone than the police narrowed in. 

Meanwhile, the accused, who had held the girl captive for almost a day, had coerced her into calling her parents to assure them that she was safe. That call handed over another crucial lead to the police.

Cops follow food delivery valet, swoop down on accused

Police then tracked an online food delivery valet heading to the same address and discreetly followed him to the rented apartment, later launching a late-night raid to rescue the girl. 

Police learnt that in the 24 hours spent in captivity, the girl was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assault and was filmed. Senior Inspector Anamika Mirzapure said the accused was produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody for two days. She added, “We are investigating whether the accused was involved in similar offences in the past. His Instagram account, mobile phones and other digital devices have been seized and are being examined threadbare.” 

Adding to her statements, she said, “Electronic devices recovered from the flat are being examined, while DNA samples, fingerprints and other forensic evidence are being meticulously collected. They will play a crucial role in the investigation.”