Man Held for Trapping Minors on Instagram

Hyderabad: A man wanted for the past six months for luring minors by trapping and sexually assaulting them in the name of love through Instagram has been apprehended from Mahbubnagar district by a special team of Banjara Hills police.

According to police sources, the accused, Mamalakunta Pawan alias Tarun, 22, a resident of Film Nagar, posed as wealthy and reportedly assaulted several victims, trapping and blackmailing them. He created fake profiles to appear rich, gained victims’ confidence, sexually assaulted them and later extorted money and gold. Police seized his mobile phone and found chats showing how he convinced victims of his affection before seducing and assaulting them.

Pawan also recorded videos of the victims and later extorted valuables under various pretexts. He introduced himself to a 17‑year‑old girl through Instagram last December and assaulted her in January. He later promised marriage and extorted two tula of gold from her. Following a complaint lodged on February 3, police registered cases under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

After the complaint, Pawan trapped another 19‑year‑old girl from Mahbubnagar district and married her four months ago. Investigators traced him through his friends and mobile accounts linked to Instagram. In September last year, he allegedly raped a 16‑year‑old caretaker in the city. Another POCSO case was registered against him, and he spent two months in central prison as an undertrial. He had earlier been arrested by Uppal police in a theft case.

Police believe Pawan used the same modus operandi to assault several young women. It is also reported that he was inspired by Chandrashekar Azad alias Anil, recently arrested for trapping wealthy girls in Jubilee Hills.

The accused is being questioned, and the case is under investigation. Senior police officials have appreciated the efforts of Banjara Hills police in tracking and apprehending him.