Mumbai woman reports drugging, rape by Instagram friend

Mumbai: In a deeply disturbing incident in Mumbai, a 21-year-old woman alleged that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by an acquaintance she had met through Instagram. The case is currently under investigation by the police in south Mumbai's Worli.

The victim detailed her harrowing experience in an Instagram post, calling it her "most traumatic" encounter. According to her account, she connected with the accused, Heetik Shah, solely through Instagram, and their interaction took a devastating turn when they decided to meet in person on January 13.

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The evening began with the two going for drinks and partying at various locations in the city. The victim, however, described feeling increasingly anxious and isolated as the night progressed. She mentioned that after consuming tequila shots, she started feeling intoxicated, and her distress escalated when Shah allegedly coerced her into drinking more.

The victim said she experienced a blackout episode, suspecting that she may have been drugged, a situation colloquially referred to as being "roofied." Shockingly, she awoke to find herself being sexually assaulted by Shah, who reportedly exhibited intense rage, even resorting to physical violence.

The alleged rape occurred at the residence of one of Shah's friends, where his friends reportedly intervened to shield him. Despite the trauma, the victim managed to call her cousin for assistance, opting not to disclose the horrifying incident to her parents immediately.

The following morning, Shah apologised for his actions, but the victim, understandably shaken and injured, expressed that the apology held no value. She further revealed that Shah has since absconded, having applied for anticipatory bail. Despite the severity of the accusations, 12 days have passed without his arrest.

Screenshots of Shah's alleged apology were shared by the victim, where he expressed regret for the situation escalating and hoped they could move past it. The victim, in her Instagram post, disclosed that Shah has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code about rape and causing hurt voluntarily.

Expressing a call for justice, the victim urged other girls to exercise caution in their interactions and outings.