Jagatsinghpur: The Jagatsinghpur police have arrested two brothers on charges of rape, sexual exploitation, blackmail and extortion of a woman after a detailed investigation into a complaint lodged earlier this week.

The accused have been identified as Gyana Ranjan Nayak alias Pupu alias Aadi alias Arrix (20) and his elder brother Biswa Ranjan Nayak (24), both residents of Ichhapur village in Jagatsinghpur district. Police said the duo had been staying in rented houses in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

According to the press release issued by Jagatsinghpur police, the victim, an unmarried woman from Jagatsinghpur district, filed a written complaint at Jagatsinghpur police station on May 14, following which a case was registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.

Police investigation revealed that the accused brothers allegedly targeted college girls through Instagram and personal contact. They reportedly developed relationships with women, secretly captured obscene photographs and videos, and later used the material to blackmail and extort money from them. Police alleged that the accused exploited several women physically, sexually and financially.

The complainant told police that she came in contact with Gyana Ranjan through Instagram while studying in Bhubaneswar in 2024. Investigators alleged that the accused befriended her and later blackmailed her using objectionable photographs. Police said the woman was repeatedly sexually assaulted after being threatened with the circulation of the images.

The victim became pregnant and was later taken to a rented house in Cuttack, where she was allegedly confined for several days. Police claimed the accused forcibly terminated her pregnancy by administering abortion pills. The woman also alleged that she was assaulted by both brothers during her confinement.

According to police, the victim managed to escape in May 2025 when the accused were away from the house. However, fearing social stigma, her family initially did not report the matter. Investigators said the accused allegedly continued stalking and blackmailing the woman through social media and messaging platforms. Police also alleged that the brothers extorted around Rs 2 lakh from the victim and her sister through online transfers and cash payments.

Police said the accused even procured a SIM card in the victim’s name to gain access to her Gmail and WhatsApp accounts and allegedly circulated obscene content impersonating her. The woman later approached the Jagatsinghpur Superintendent of Police, after which a special team was formed.

Both accused were arrested within 24 hours of the complaint, police claimed. Several mobile phones, including premium smartphones allegedly containing obscene photos and videos of the victim and other women, have been seized during the investigation.

Police said the accused would be produced before the court on May 16. Investigation into the case is continuing to ascertain whether more women were targeted by the duo.