Indian police arrested a software engineer on Wednesday for allegedly threatening to rape the infant daughter of cricketer Virat Kohli following India’s defeat to arch-rival Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.
Indian cricketers have faced a barrage of online hate and threats after crashing out of the Twenty20 international tournament.
Police said investigators from the Mumbai Police Cyber Cell arrested Akubathini Ramnagesh after his tweet targeting the cricketer’s 10-month-old daughter went viral.
Read more: Extremists issue rape threats to the daughter of Virat Kohli
The 23-year-old suspect is facing charges of sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, defamation, and publishing obscene material.
“He has been detained and is being brought to Mumbai,” a police officer told AFP.
Kohli is married to Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and the couple welcomed their first child in January.
Finally something right! Man who reportedly threatened @imVkohli's 10-month old daughter with rape arrested in India. After the threat went viral he reportedly changed his Twitter name to pose as Pakistani. A fact-checking website identified him as Indianhttps://t.co/2J15su2K9c
— Fifi Haroon (@fifiharoon) November 11, 2021
Ramnagesh is alleged to have issued the threats from his Twitter account following India’s first-ever World Cup defeat to Pakistan in the opening game of the tournament on October 24.
The humiliating, 10-wicket loss prompted trolling of the Indian team, including the side’s only Muslim player, Mohammed Shami, who was subjected to a storm of social media abuse.
Read more: World jubilant, India mourns 10-wicket win of Pakistan in T20 World Cup
Several former cricketers and Shami’s teammates, including Kohli, denounced the hateful outpouring against the bowler.
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk