Fatorda police have arrested Raj Prashant Thakur from Pune, Maharashtra, in connection with a sexual assault and blackmail case involving a young woman from Mapusa. The accused was brought to Goa on Thursday after being apprehended by police.
According to investigators, Thakur lured the survivor with promises of a high-paying job in the events industry. The assault allegedly took place at Pajifond, Margao, where the victim was called under false pretences. During the assault, the accused reportedly recorded a video and later used it to blackmail her.
Police said Thakur extorted a total of Rs40 lakh from the victim by threatening to release the footage. He also allegedly forced her to recruit other young women, collecting Rs7,500 from each recruit as fees. When she failed to bring more women, he began demanding money from her directly.
The survivor stated in her complaint that she was taken to a flat in Margao, where she was sexually assaulted and repeatedly threatened. The case came to light after social activist Pratima Coutinho raised the issue recently.
Police have filed charges against Thakur along with three others — Anthony D’Souza, Siddharth Kambli, and Jyoti Nagvekar — for their alleged involvement in the crime. Sources revealed that two more similar complaints have been registered against Thakur at different police stations in North Goa.
Investigations are ongoing to identify additional victims and establish the full extent of the network involved.
