• Source:JND
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A 48-year-old YouTuber from Bengal and his teenage son, who together have nearly 4.3 million followers, were arrested on Sunday in Haroa, North 24 Parganas, for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl. The victim was reportedly lured with promises of appearing in comedy and dance reels.

The accused, Arabinda Mondal and his son, were taken into custody in the Mohanpur- Bacharipara area following a complaint lodged by the girl's family. The victim, a Class 9 student, is the daughter of a Kolkata Police officer.

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According to a TOI report, the alleged abuse came to light after the girl confided in her family on Saturday, revealing she had endured it for several days. A formal complaint was filed with Haroa police the next morning.

Police said Mondal and his son, who live in the same neighborhood as the girl, initially approached her months ago, offering a role in short video reels for their YouTube channel, which reportedly has 4.5 million followers. As neighbors, the family initially did not object to her accompanying them to various filming locations.

The situation later turned predatory. A relative told TOI that the accused secretly took private photos and videos of the minor. “Using those as leverage, the accused and his son allegedly began blackmailing her and repeatedly raped her, threatening to upload the images on social media if she spoke up about it,” the relative said.

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A senior officer from the Basirhat District Police revealed further disturbing details, stating, "They allegedly applied vermilion on her forehead, promising marriage, before raping her." Following the revelations, Haroa police arrested Mondal under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.