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Instagram Doctor Scams Woman Out of ₹5.2 Lakh
20 Sep
Summary
- Man posed as female doctor on Instagram for weight loss advice.
- Victim paid ₹5.2 lakh after being blackmailed with shared photos.
- Accused arrested with cash and items bought with extorted money.
A Bahraich woman fell victim to a blackmail scheme after seeking weight-loss advice on Instagram. A 46-year-old man, Himanshu Tayal, created a fake profile of a female doctor, "Sakshi Bansal," and gained the victim's trust over two months. He convinced her to share personal photographs, claiming they were necessary for medical advice.
Once the photographs were obtained, the nature of the interaction changed. Tayal allegedly began threatening to make the pictures public and issued threats against the victim's son while demanding money. Under immense pressure, the woman sold all her gold jewellery, a gift from her marriage, to pay the accused ₹5.20 lakh.
Following the initial payment, Tayal demanded an additional ₹10 lakh. At this point, the victim informed her husband and reported the incident to the Bahraich police on September 16, 2026. Two police teams were formed, and through an informer's tip, Tayal was apprehended near the Bahraich railway station.
During Tayal's arrest, two mobile phones and ₹1 lakh in cash were recovered. Police confirmed that the victim's photographs were stored on the devices. Further investigation led to the recovery of an additional ₹1.50 lakh in cash from his residence, along with a motorcycle, an air conditioner, and a television, all allegedly purchased with the extorted money.
