Kaushik Gupta answers a reader query on dealing with sexual and financial blackmail experienced before someone turns adult
Reader queries
Can anything be done if suppose someone who is 20 years old now was blackmailed for sex and money three to four years ago? Suppose at that time someone who befriended the victim was able to take a nude photo of his and then started blackmailing him with messages threatening to show the photo to his parents. Can the victim report the matter now to the local police? Will they at all help him if he doesn’t have any proof against the blackmailer?
Anonymous, Assam
Dear Anonymous
First, it is important that we don’t be scared. A blackmailer always encashes on our fear. If we can overcome our fear and confront them, then the blackmailer will, in most cases, beat a retreat.
If an incident such as the one described happened three to four years ago and the victim is now 20, then at the time of the incident he would have been a child in the eyes of the law. Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act), which came into force on June 19, 2012, any person who makes a child exhibit his (‘his’ includes persons of all genders and sexes) body or any part of his body or threatens to use, in any form of media, a real or fabricated depiction through electronic, film or digital or any other mode, of any part of the body of the child or the involvement of the child in a sexual act then such person will be committing the offence of ‘sexual harassment’ as defined under Section 11 of POCSO Act.
The said person can be imprisoned for up to three years and shall also be liable to fine under Section 12 of the said Act. It is important to remember that under the said Act even an attempt to commit an offence is also punishable with the same punishment that the actual offence will attract.
The victim in this case should report the matter to the local police, if needed with the help of a local NGO, or by calling the Childline toll free number at 1098. If the messages from the blackmailer have been in any material form and saved by the victim, then they may also prove useful in catching and punishing the blackmailer.
Main photo credit: Kaushik Gupta (also published in the October 2013 issue of Varta).
Dear Anonymous and Kaushik, A few suggestions: 1. Anonymous should preserve all evidence of blackmail. Has your blackmailer ever sent these photographs of you, or sent you threats through messages, over whatsapp, emails or any other form? If yes, do not delete or destroy this. If not, you will need evidence to prove that these pictures exist in the first place. 2. Childline or a regular child protection NGO may not have the expertise to offer you the help you require. Please contact Tulir, which is a Chennai based NGO – in case you are in another city, they will still be best placed to refer you to credible lawyers and social workers. Tulir’s contact details are Tel :91+44+43235867, E-mail :tulircphcsa@yahoo.co.in. If you have any trouble, feel free to contact me Roop @ 9830610450, roop@sanjogindia.org. In case you do not have evidence at this point, this organisation will tie up with the police to help you secure evidence as well.
Dear Roop, many thanks for sharing this information! Best wishes from the Varta team.