Mohammad Shahrukh says he has handed over nearly Rs 4 lakh to an Instagram influencer and her two associates, and that they still wanted more. Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district have now filed an FIR against all three.
Shahrukh, who lives in Chaudhary Sarai, names the influencer as Arisha. She has more than one lakh followers on Instagram. The two men in the FIR are Anas and Shoaib. He alleges they honey-trapped him, took his private photographs and videos and threatened to make them public.
The allegations
By his account, he met Arisha around three years ago on a trip to Nainital. They knew each other through Instagram and met in person at the hill station, each with their own companions. A relationship followed.
Later, Shahrukh says, Arisha and her associates began threatening to upload his content and to pin false cases on him unless he paid. The FIR records Rs 55,000 extorted that way. A settlement signed on stamp paper on July 1, 2023 supposedly closed the matter, with Arisha admitting that earlier accusations against him were false. The demands came back after a while. The latest was for Rs 2 lakh, and it was the one that sent him to the police.
He gave officers screenshots of payments and conversations. He also claims that since the FIR was registered he has received new threats and abusive messages, and that posts aimed at him have appeared on social media. In his complaint he describes the three as part of a larger racket that targets men and relies on their fear of embarrassment. Police have not verified those claims.
What police say
A local police officer, Sudhir Panwar, confirmed the FIR rests on the complainant’s allegations. “The allegations are being investigated, and further legal action will be taken on the basis of evidence,” he said.
Officers are trying to find Arisha, Anas and Shoaib. Nobody has been charged in court yet, and police say each person’s role will be examined before any further step.
