Chandigarh University row: Accused men blackmailed woman student to make, circulate videos

In a shocking revelation in the ongoing Chandigarh University controversy, sources have revealed that the two accused men, Sunny Mehta and his friend Rankaj Verma had allegedly threatened the woman student to make videos of other hostel inmates.

As per one of the protesting students of Chandigarh University, some chats between the accused girl and the accused men revealed that she was getting blackmailed by them. They allegedly threatened to make her private videos public, if she didn't make videos of other girl hostellers.

Punjab Police have arrested three persons -- a woman student, a 23-year-old man, rumoured to be her boyfriend, from Himachal Pradesh and his 31-year-old friend.

Massive protests broke out on the Chandigarh University campus post-midnight on Saturday, after students alleged that "private" and "objectionable" videos of several women hostel inmates were leaked on the internet.

The students alleged that videos of nearly 60 girls taking baths in the hostel were leaked. On the other hand, the varsity issued a statement that one video was circulated. Moreover, it was captured and circulated by the accused. They said that the girl had made the video and shared it herself with her friend in Himachal Pradesh.

Refuting rumours about the death of any student on campus in relation to the controversy, the university said that the video had been leaked by a girl student, who herself sent the video to one of her friends. The development came to the fore after Chandigarh University's pro-chancellor issued a statement clarifying there have been no suicides or deaths on campus.

An FIR under Section 354-C (voyeurism) of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act has been registered in the matter and further probe is on, the police said.

Police first arrested the woman student who was accused of making the videos, followed by a 23-year-old man from Himachal Pradesh, who was rumoured to be her boyfriend. His friend, a 31-year-old man, was also held.

Police also seized the phones of the three accused. A police official said the devices of all three accused will be sent for forensic examination.

On directions of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a three-member special investigation team (SIT) comprising only women police officers has been constituted to probe the matter.

Police on Monday produced the three accused in the Kharar court in Mohali and sought a ten-day remand. However, the court sent the accused to seven-day police remand.

Following assurance of a fair and transparent probe, students at Chandigarh University ended their protest at around 1.30 am on Monday, Mohali police chief Soni said.

Meanwhile, the university announced "non-teaching days" till September 24, following which several students returned to their homes. The varsity has also formed a nine-member committee to probe the incident.