A married school teacher’s secret relationship with another man ended in harassment, stalking, and digital defamation, with fake HIV claims and intimate photos shared online. The teacher’s wife has filed a formal complaint, and police have launched an investigation under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT laws.
From Secret Friendship to Scandal: An Affair Turns Toxic
What began as a normal friendship on Instagram between a 32-year-old school teacher and a city-based hotelier has turned into a deeply troubling case of cyber harassment, stalking, and defamation, now under police investigation.
The teacher, a resident of Pune’s Dhankawadi area, reportedly engaged in a two-year relationship with the hotelier while being married and raising an eight-year-old daughter. The relationship, initiated via Instagram, quickly progressed to in-person visits and emotional intimacy, but began to deteriorate after the teacher sought to end it, fearing the consequences on his family life.
According to police, the teacher’s wife discovered the affair after stumbling upon disturbing content online, intimate images allegedly misused, false claims of HIV, and fake dating app profiles.
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A Shocked Partner and a Digital Trail of Revenge
Inspector (Crime) Surekha Chavan, who is heading the probe at Sahakarnagar Police Station, revealed the shocking scale of digital retaliation. She stated that the accused used Grindr to circulate fake profiles of the teacher and posted explicit images, some allegedly featuring the wife, with false claims that they were HIV positive.
The accused also reportedly stalked the family both online and offline, creating public disturbances outside their residence and frequently threatening the family with exposure. The wife, distressed by the impact on her child and societal standing, approached the police seeking intervention. Police sources confirmed that the accused, who is also married but childless, is currently absconding.
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Legal Action Under the New Criminal Code and IT Act
The Sahakarnagar police have booked the absconding hotelier under key provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, India’s recently introduced criminal code, as well as under the Information Technology Act. Charges include stalking, defamation, criminal intimidation, sexual harassment, and identity misuse.
Senior Inspector Rahul Goud stated that the misuse of digital platforms for personal vendetta has become a growing concern. They are treating this as a priority case because of its psychological impact on the family and the minor child involved. Legal experts point out that while same-sex relationships are decriminalised in India, this case highlights the legal and moral complexities that emerge when personal betrayals overlap with cyber abuse.
The incident has triggered heated conversations in Pune’s educational and LGBTQIA+ communities, sparking debates around secrecy, consent, revenge porn, and how online anonymity can be weaponised.