AGRA: In one of the most unusual cases the UP police have handled recently, a 25-year-old man has been arrested for his alleged obsession with photographing women’s feet — sometimes secretly, other times by offering money. The investigation began after a woman filed a complaint at the Hathras cyber crime police station on Feb 1, alleging Deepak Sharma contacted her on social media and pressured her for pictures of her feet.
Poll
What Is the Best Way to Strengthen Online Safety?
Using technical intelligence, the police traced Sharma, a resident of Aligarh, and arrested him near Ruheri Tiraha in Hathras on Thursday.
During interrogation, he allegedly admitted to having a fixation on women’s feet. Police said he befriended women online, demanded photos of their feet, and resorted to threats if they refused. A search of his mobile phone revealed over 1,000 images of women’s feet.
The complainant told police that Sharma sent her a friend request on Snapchat, a social media app where messages disappear once a person has read them, on Oct 24 last year. Hathras SP Chiranjiv Nath Sinha told TOI, “After she accepted the request, he initially engaged in normal conversations but soon started making inappropriate remarks. Later, he asked for pictures of her feet. When she refused, he offered her money. Upon her continued refusal, he threatened to kill her and make their chat public.”
Sharma has been charged under Section 66D of the IT Act (cheating by personation using communication devices) and BNS Section 351(4) (criminal intimidation through anonymous communication). SP Sinha said, “I have never seen such a case in my service.” Sharma has been sent to jail, and legal proceedings are underway.
