Rajkot, April 30 — A four-year-old online gaming friendship turned into a nightmare for a young MBA student in Rajkot, after her morphed images were allegedly circulated on social media by a man she met through a mobile game. The accused, identified as Akshit Sharma from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, now faces serious charges under cybercrime and blackmail laws.
The case came to light after the victim, a student currently pursuing her MBA in Rajkot, lodged a complaint at the Gandhigram-2 police station. As per the FIR, the two initially met through a mobile game where players from across India formed teams to play together. About five months ago, the student became friends with a player known by the username "Walker". They began chatting frequently and exchanged Snapchat IDs, leading to a closer virtual friendship.
However, the dynamic changed drastically after a dispute arose between them. Following the argument, the victim cut off communication, which allegedly triggered a malicious response from the accused. According to the student’s complaint, Sharma used images from her social media accounts, morphed them, and shared them online in an attempt to defame her.
The situation escalated when the accused allegedly threatened to release more explicit, fabricated images if she did not comply with his demand to maintain a relationship with him. The student reported that she received a series of harassing messages, attempting to coerce and mentally torment her.
Distressed and fearing further defamation, the student approached Gandhigram-2 police, where an FIR was promptly filed. Authorities have initiated a full-scale investigation and are working to trace the origin and digital footprints of the accused.
Police officials stated that the matter involves grave violations related to online harassment, privacy breach, and extortion. Digital forensic teams are expected to examine the Snapchat and social media exchanges as part of the probe.
The incident underscores the growing concerns around digital safety, especially among youth engaged in online gaming and social platforms. Law enforcement has urged users to remain cautious when interacting with strangers online and to report any suspicious activity without delay.
