An ‘influencer’ arrested in Ahmedabad for allegedly kidnapping and assaulting an 18-year-old student over an Instagram post. The accused, Rajat Dalal, was later released on bail.
According to complainant Dhyan Lodha, around one-and-a-half months ago, the accused began visiting the gym where he frequented. On June 1, Lodha had posted a video on his Instagram account where he, in reference to Dalal, allegedly said, “Roz subah apna muh gym me dikha kar mera din kharab karta hua mighty Raju” (Mighty Raju ruining my morning by showing his face every day in my gym).
After the post went viral, Dalal, on June 4, allegedly called Lodha via Instagram, took his address and forcibly picked him up from outside his home in a Thar. According to the complainant, Dalal was accompanied by two friends.
Despite apologising, Dalal allegedly threatened Lodha saying he would “cut him up for daring to make a video”.
Further, Lodha was taken to a cowshed and his face smeared with cow dung. He was also hit with sandals while the accused were recording a video of the act despite Lodha continuing to apologise. Dalal and the two accomplices then forcibly drove Lodha to a residential society, made him do sit-ups on a common plot while verbally abusing him and recording the act.
Lodha’s nightmare continued as he was allegedly taken to a flat where he was made to clean the bathroom. According to the complaint filed at the Sabarmati police station on June 5, Dalal went on to urinate on Lodha’s face to wake him up from fainting.
Following multiple calls by Lodha’s mother and requesting that her son be let go of, Dalal subsequently dropped him at his residence. “Main isko jaan se maar deta par yeh chhota hai isliye chhod raha hu, main Haryana ka Jat hu, meri badi pohnch hai yahan mera koi kuch nahi bigaad payega, police meri jeb mein hoti (I would have killed him but I stopped because he is young. I’m a Jat from Haryana and have contacts with the higher ups.. even the police are in my pocket, no one can harm me),” he allegedly warned Lodha and his mother.
Lodha was later admitted to the emergency ward of SMS Hospital in Chandkheda. His statement was recorded and an FIR was lodged based on his complaint.