Shocking twist in extortion case, victim turns out minor’s abuser

An extortion complaint filed a few days ago by Sector 19-based dentist Gurcharan Singh took a U-turn as the investigation led the city police to uncover the two-year-long sexual exploitation of a minor, now 19, involving another suspect, Kasturi Lal.

A counter-FIR has now been filed by the 19-year-old girl in Mohali, as the alleged exploitation took place in Mullanpur and Nayagaon. Two men, including the dentist and Lal, a cloth merchant from Mullanpur, have been booked under the POCSO Act.

As for the Rs 5 lakh extortion complaint filed by the dentist, it was lodged against an acquaintance of the survivor, whom she had confided in about the ordeal.

The matter came to light when the dentist approached the police with an extortion complaint, stating that he had been receiving threatening calls demanding Rs 5 lakh to settle a so-called “rape case". He submitted call recordings and alleged that someone posing as a lawyer was behind the threats.

The police traced the calls to a 19-year-old woman. Upon being contacted, the girl revealed a harrowing account of sexual abuse and gangrape involving the dentist and the cloth merchant from Mullanpur, which began when she was 17.

In her detailed statement, the girl said the trader repeatedly lured her to his house in Mullanpur and hotels in Nayagaon under false pretenses and raped her. She further alleged that the trader then introduced her to his acquaintance, the dentist, who also sexually assaulted her at a hotel in Nayagaon. She claimed both men took turns exploiting her over two years.

Police investigations confirmed that the girl had indeed been raped over the period by the two accused. Following her complaint, authorities confronted the suspects, and a zero FIR was filed and handed over to the Mohali police for further investigation, given the cross-jurisdictional nature of the crimes. Both Gurcharan Singh and Lal have been booked under sections related to gangrape and the POCSO Act.

Mohali SSP Deepak Pareek said, “A zero FIR has been forwarded by the UT police. The case will be verified and further action will be taken accordingly."

The survivor remained silent until recently, when she confided in an acquaintance. However, this acquaintance allegedly began using her ordeal to blackmail the dentist, making extortion calls while claiming to represent her legally.

Meanwhile, the dentist stated that the money had already been paid, although the survivor’s family denies receiving any such payment.

Chandigarh