The convict prayed for leniency, claiming that he was poor and that the main accused had used his Instagram ID for commission of the crime. (Image generated by AI)A Pune special court in July awarded rigorous imprisonment for six months to a youngster in connection with the circulation of nude videos of a 15-year-old girl. The main accused in this case, who made the videos, though, is still absconding.The First Information Report (FIR) in this case was initially lodged at the Paud police station in Pune Rural in January 2025. The case was later transferred to the Pimpri Chinchwad police for investigation.Police inspector Bhaskar Kadam (now retired), the investigation officer in this case, said the absconding accused and the victim knew each other.“He allegedly made nude videos of her and circulated them to people who know her through his friend’s Instagram account. Her family then approached the police and filed a complaint,” he added.The FIR was lodged against two persons, including the main accused who took nude videos of the girl, and his friend from whose Instagram account the obscene content was circulated.Both were booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 77 (voyeurism or secretly watching, recording and sharing of a woman’s private acts without her consent), along with sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act.In December 2025, the police arrested the 24-year-old from whose Instagram ID the nude videos were circulated.Story continues below this adThe police then submitted a chargesheet against the arrested accused before the special court in Pune. During the trial, he voluntarily pleaded guilty. Considering he did not play a role in taking nude videos of the victim girl, the court dropped voyeurism charges against him under BNS Section 77.Also Read | Solving Crime | How a rejected proposal led to a 4-year conspiracy and a brutal acid attackBut the court held him guilty under Section 12 of the Pocso Act and Section 67B of the IT Act, for sexual harassment of the minor and circulation of nude videos, respectively.The convict prayed for leniency, claiming that he was poor and that the main accused had used his Instagram ID for commission of the crime. Assistant Public Prosecutor A S Bramhe sought maximum punishment for the accused, saying he was part of a serious offence against a minor girl.The court observed that he “played (a) minimal role compared to (the) absconding accused” and awarded him six months rigorous imprisonment.Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. 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