Bhubaneswar, August 7: A friendship that began on Facebook allegedly took a shocking turn after a delivery executive was arrested on charges of rape and blackmail. The accused, identified as Harekrushna Mohanty, a native of Tihidi in Odisha's Bhadrak district, was arrested by Maitri Vihar Police and later produced before a local court.

According to police, Facebook friendship turns Into alleged sexual assault and blackmail; delivery boy arrested in Bhubaneswar. Their online acquaintance gradually developed into a friendship and later into a romantic relationship.

Police alleged that during this period, the accused repeatedly took the woman to hotels and sexually assaulted her against her will. He allegedly recorded videos and took photographs of the incidents without her consent. The accused is further alleged to have used the explicit photos and videos to blackmail the survivor, threatening to upload them on social media if she refused to meet him or accompany him to hotels.

Fearing the threats, the woman reportedly continued to comply for some time. However, when the accused recently asked her to meet him at a hotel again, she refused. Following her refusal, he allegedly uploaded some of her photographs on social media.

After learning about the alleged circulation of her photos, the survivor approached Maitri Vihar Police Station and lodged a complaint. Acting on the complaint, police arrested Harekrushna Mohanty. During the investigation, officers seized several photographs and videos from his possession.

The accused has been forwarded to court, and further investigation into the case is underway.