In an alleged incident of gang rape in a moving car akin to Nirbhaya episode, Gujarat police have launched a manhunt on Friday to nab culprits.

Sources in police said that the incident occurred three months back but it came to light on Thursday after the victim filed a police complaint.

According to FIR filed with the police, the victim who was travelling on her two-wheeler was intercepted by an SUV near upmarket Nehru Nagar circle in Ahmedabad and dragged inside the car by four masked men, who took turns to rape her in the moving car, even as they filmed the incident. One of four men also inflicted injuries on the victim. later, these men took her phone and purse, before abandoning her. However, these were returned to the victim later by two women.

The victim’s plight did not end here. The accused, who had prepared a video threatened her of making it public and used it as an excuse to torture and blackmail her for over three months by asking her to visit the specified hotel alone. The accused approached the victim via their lady friend one Yamini Nair, who also extort Rs 50,000 from the victim. Yamini, like other accused, is said to be absconding from her flat.

The victim claimed that of the four men in the car, she heard the names Rishabh Maru and Gaurav Dalmia, who are now key accused.

Apparently, the victim had become friends with Rishabh on social media some time back.  The accused also contacted her on social media and asked for ransom or a one-night stand, repeating their threat of releasing the clip if their demand was not met. Feared by his threat victim again gave a gold ring and cash, she was again abducted and molested in a moving car, this time by the three of the same accused who told her that they were doing so at the behest of Dalmia.

Initially the girl thought of committing suicide but later on decided to approach women helpline – Abhayam. There she got counselling from women police and got courage to file a police complaint.  According to Panna Mamaya, ACP with women’s crime wing, victim’s statement had been taken after necessary medical check-up.

Joint Commissioner of Ahmedabad JK Bhatt said that police had initiated exercise to gather CCTV footage of the area on the date mentioned by the victim. Besides mobile phone data of the victim have been taken, said Bhatt adding that the police have identified seven accused in the case including two females.