Dy engineer booked for rape

Blackmailed using WhatsApp chats

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A deputy engineer from the Water Resources Department, Vaibhav Vijay Patil was booked for rape at City Chowk Police Station after allegedly befriending a woman on Instagram, luring her into a relationship, and later sexually assaulting her.

He is also accused of blackmailing her using their WhatsApp chats when she refused to marry him.

Vaibhav is currently posted at the Upper Painganga Project (Akhada Balapur, Hingoli district). The 35-year-old complainant is a married woman residing in the city. She came in contact with Vaibhav on Instagram in July 2025, after which their interaction increased and they exchanged mobile numbers.

Vaibhav allegedly took her around the city in a luxury car on July 16, under the pretext of going out for coffee. According to the victim, he threatened to send their WhatsApp conversations to her husband and used this to blackmail her, after which he allegedly sexually assaulted her for the first time.

He is also accused of recording the act and threatening to make it viral. Between July 25 and October 23, 2025, he allegedly took her to various hotels in the city and repeatedly assaulted her against her will.

Unable to endure the harassment any longer, the woman approached the police and lodged a complaint, following which a case was registered against Vaibhav.