Man arrested for sexual assault after luring woman with marriage promise on Instagram

Police in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh have arrested a 21-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a woman by promising to marry her, hurling abuses, and issuing death threats. The accused, identified as Vishal Gautam, a resident of Shahpur village in Jaunpur district's Badlapur police station area, was apprehended near Jaunpur Mod, Dhakwa Cut on the National Highway by the Aaspur Devsara police station team.

According to police, the victim had met Vishal Gautam through Instagram. The accused allegedly lured her to Nashik on November 16, 2025, under the pretext of marriage, took her to a rented room, and established physical relations with her while assuring her of marriage. Following the death of the victim's father on December 14, 2025, Gautam brought her back to Badlapur and sent her home. Subsequently, he refused to marry her and began threatening her life while hurling abuses at her.

Based on the victim's complaint, a case was registered at Aaspur Devsara police station under sections 69, 352, and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Acting on a tip-off from an informer, a police team led by station in-charge Rakesh Kumar Chaurasia conducted the operation under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Deepak Bhukar, Additional Superintendent of Police East Alok Kumar, and Circle Officer Patti Pradeep Singh.

Sub-Inspector Shivam Tripathi, along with constables Shivam Yadav and Ajeet Chauhan, arrested Vishal Gautam son of Surendra Gautam alias Guddu from the highway location. The police are proceeding with further legal action against the accused in this case of sexual assault under false marriage promises.