Youth arrested for allegedly raping transwoman in Kochi

Palarivattom police on Sunday (October 4, 2026) arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly raping and blackmailing a trans woman. The arrested person is Muhammed Shafil of Tanur, Malappuram.

The youth, who allegedly befriended the survivor through social media, is accused of sexually assaulting her, filming the visuals and extorting ₹1.18 lakh while threatening to circulate the videos on social media. The alleged incident occurred in July.

Police said he was out on bail in a POCSO case. The Ernakulam First Class Court sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.

Published – 04 Oct 2026 23:44 IST