Dolphin Ayan viral video case: First-ever case filed under PECA Act in KPK

For the first time in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s history, a case has been registered under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) following an incident involving model and dancer Dolphin Ayan. This action was taken after Ayan filed a complaint at Hashtnagri Police Station, accusing seven individuals, including the main suspect, Imran Khan, of severe misconduct.

According to the case details, the accused allegedly kidnapped Ayan at gunpoint from Shabqadar in 2023 and took her to a private location, where they filmed her forcibly. This footage was later used to blackmail her. Ayan stated that she discovered the video had gone viral on social media on October 29, which severely impacted her and her family’s reputation. She urged authorities to arrest the suspects and bring them to justice.

Interestingly, this case had previously come to the attention of the police. On September 15, 2024, Station House Officer (SHO) Abdullah Jan of Shaheed Gulfat Hussain Police Station arrested Imran Khan after Ayan and her mentor, Neena, reported threats, extortion demands, and aerial firing by Khan. During initial questioning, Imran Khan admitted to his actions, yet authorities failed to prevent the video from circulating online.

Police reports indicate that Imran Khan had a history of intimidating and firing weapons at gatherings in the Khushal Bazaar area, especially targeting the transgender community. Now, under the PECA Act, a new case has been registered, and further investigation is underway. The PECA Act is designed to tackle cybercrimes, including the unlawful distribution of personal content, online harassment, and other internet-based offenses.

This development marks a significant step toward justice, highlighting the growing importance of cybercrime laws in protecting individuals’ privacy and dignity in Pakistan.