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After an Uber driver accused a passenger of potentially stalking an underage girl, detectives discovered the man had allegedly traveled from India to North Carolina to try to see her.
An investigation also revealed that Prit Pankaj Jain had allegedly sexually exploited and extorted the 17-year-old girl, according to court documents obtained by Us.
Deputies encountered the Uber driver and Jain, 31, on Thursday, September 24, when they responded to a “verbal dispute” report in the Meadowlands Community in Davidson County, according to a news release from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver told deputies that his passenger, Jain, was “allegedly stalking a juvenile female,” the agency said.
When deputies spoke with Jain, of Mumbai, India, he said he was trying to leave gifts for someone he had been dating online, according to the sheriff’s office.
The deputies confirmed that the person Jain was referring to was the 17-year-old girl, resulting in an investigation involving a search of his mobile devices, the agency said.
Investigators learned Jain allegedly posed as a younger male on social media applications and started a romantic relationship with the teen online.
When the teen discovered his “true identity, she ended the relationship and blocked further communication,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Jain then traveled from Mumbai, India, to North Carolina to try to “re-establish” contact with her, the sheriff’s office said.
He was arrested on four counts of first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor, four counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of sexual extortion, according to the agency.
Per court documents, Jain is accused of “unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously” encouraging the 17-year-old to “engage in sexual activity” in video files found by investigators.
After the teen blocked him, he tried to extort her by threatening to share a private image of her unless she unblocked him on social media, court documents state.
He did so to try to continue their online relationship and “continue to obtain private images,” according to the court documents.
Jain’s court-appointed defense attorney didn’t immediately return a request for comment from Us.
Following Jain’s arrest, he was ordered to be held without bond, according to the sheriff’s office.
He had his initial court appearance on Friday, September 25, and was ordered to remain held without bond, records show. His next court date is set for October 6.
