Kanpur: Two teachers from a coaching institute in Kanpur have been arrested on charges of rape and blackmail. The victim, a minor, had enrolled in the institute in 2022 to prepare for the NEET medical entrance exam.
According to police, the ordeal began in January 2023 when the victim's biology teacher, 32-year-old Sahil Siddiqui, invited her to a party at his residence. Once alone, he allegedly drugged and raped her, filming the act. Siddiqui then proceeded to blackmail the victim, threatening to release the video and harm her family if she didn't comply with his demands.
The victim was subjected to repeated sexual assaults by Siddiqui and, on multiple occasions, was also raped by the institute's 39-year-old chemistry teacher, Vikas Porwal. The victim was held captive at Siddiqui's residence for a period and was forced to attend parties where she was further exploited.
The victim's courage to come forward was bolstered by a recent incident involving Siddiqui. A video surfaced online showing him sexually harassing another student, leading to his arrest and subsequent release on bail. Empowered by this development, the victim filed a police complaint on Thursday.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered on Friday, and both Siddiqui and Porwal were apprehended the same night.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Abhishek Pandey stated, "The student has alleged rape by both accused on separate occasions. A case has been registered, and the two individuals are currently under interrogation."
In a separate unrelated incident, Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested three accused for their alleged role in the brutal gang rape of a 34-year-old woman from Odisha. The horrific incident took place on the intervening night of October 10-11.
According to Times Now sources, the accused have been identified after analysing more than 700 CCTV footage.
The victim hails from Odisha's Puri, she is a researcher and social worker with over eight years of experience in the social sector. She holds a Master's degree in Social Work from Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar, and has worked with several prominent organisations.