A 20-year-old from a politically powerful family in South Goa has been arrested under the POCSO Act after allegedly filming, blackmailing, and sexually exploiting as many as 25–30 minor girls over three years. The case has exposed a disturbing pattern of institutional silence, political privilege, and systemic failure to protect children.
The Accused: Son of a Ruling BJP Councillor
At the centre of what is now being described as Goa’s most disturbing child sexual exploitation case in recent memory is Soham Sushant Naik, 20, a resident of Madhegal-Cacora in South Goa’s Kushavati region. He is the son of Sushant Naik, a sitting councillor of the Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council, representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the party that also leads the state government in Goa.
Naik was arrested by South Goa Police in the early hours of Monday, March 23, 2026, following a dramatic overnight standoff outside the Kudchade (Curchorem) Police Station, where hundreds of angry citizens had gathered demanding action. The accused had allegedly been shielded from arrest for days, with police citing the absence of a formal complaint, even as evidence of his crimes was openly circulating in the community.
How Three Years of Alleged Abuse Stayed Hidden
According to investigators and community sources, the abuse allegedly began approximately three years ago, when Soham Naik and several of his victims were still minors attending the same college or moving in the same social circles in South Goa. Investigators confirmed that both the accused and several survivors were minors at the time of the initial alleged incidents.
The accused reportedly used a calculated and predatory method: he would befriend girls, gain their trust, in some cases presenting himself as a potential marriage partner, and then lure them to isolated locations where he would allegedly commit sexual acts, filming the encounters without the victims’ knowledge or consent. The recorded material was then used as a weapon, victims were shown the footage and threatened with its public circulation on social media if they spoke out.
This blackmail-based silencing mechanism is believed to have kept dozens of victims from coming forward for years, allowing the cycle of abuse to continue uninterrupted.
The Night It All Broke: A Drinking Party and a Boast
The case did not unravel through police work or a victim’s courage alone. It came undone because of the accused’s own recklessness.
According to multiple accounts, Soham Naik allegedly showed explicit videos of his victims to friends at a drinking party, boasting about the encounters. Word spread rapidly through Curchorem and surrounding areas. A local newspaper got wind of the story and published a report, after which public outrage reached a tipping point.
On the evening of Sunday, March 22, 2026, hundreds of residents, including local community leaders and NGO representatives, marched to the Kudchade Police Station and demanded an immediate arrest. Police initially refused, stating that no formal complaint had been filed by any victim.
The public did not leave.
Facing a crowd that threatened a complete bandh if no arrest was made within 48 hours, police eventually registered a suo motu FIR, based on video evidence provided directly by a local journalist, and arrested Soham Naik in the early hours of March 23.
The Arrest and a Shocking Act of Arrogance
The arrest itself became its own flashpoint. While being escorted by police for a medical examination, Soham Naik allegedly made an obscene gesture toward the public crowd gathered outside the station. When he was brought back to the Curchorem Police Station, the crowd, having witnessed the gesture, attempted to physically attack him and had to be restrained by police.
The incident left many observers stunned and deepened outrage: here was a man who had just been arrested for allegedly victimising dozens of children, displaying open contempt for those demanding justice.
Four FIRs, Three Years of Alleged Crimes
As of March 27, 2026, four FIRs have been registered against Soham Naik. The charges span multiple laws:
- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — relevant provisions covering sexual assault and criminal intimidation
- Information Technology (IT) Act — for recording and transmission of obscene material
- Goa Children’s Act
The first FIR was the suo motu case registered by the police based on obscene videos found on the accused’s mobile phone.
The second FIR, filed by a minor, alleged that between January and June 2023, the accused befriended her under the guise of a marriage proposal, took her to isolated locations, committed sexual assault, filmed the act, and threatened to circulate the footage.
The third FIR described how, between 2024 and 2025, the accused contacted another minor on Instagram, sent her obscene images, threatened to expose her, and coerced her into sharing the personal contact details of other girls, actively using victims to recruit more victims.
The fourth FIR, registered on March 28, 2026, was filed by yet another minor victim. Police publicly stated that more survivors are expected to come forward.
On March 27, the Margao Children’s Court extended Soham Naik’s police custody by four days at the request of the Crime Branch, which argued it needed more time to interrogate him and gather digital forensic evidence.
Scale of Alleged Abuse: 25 to 30 Minor Victims
Law enforcement officials and investigators believe the total number of victims could be between 25 and 30 minor girls, a figure that has stunned the state and prompted national attention. South Goa SP Santosh Dessai confirmed that the initial forensic examination of the accused’s mobile phone revealed multiple video clips and images of underage girls.
At least three victims have formally recorded statements before the investigating officer, and the Crime Branch has issued a public appeal for more victims to come forward, assuring confidentiality and protection.
Crime Branch Takes Over — DGP Promises Fair Probe
Given the sensitivity of the case, its political dimensions, and the need to protect survivors’ identities, the investigation was transferred to the Goa Crime Branch on March 24, 2026.
Crime Branch SP Rahul Gupta confirmed receipt of all three initial FIRs and stated that a thorough probe was underway. Goa Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar addressed the media on March 26, stating that a “fair and prompt” investigation would be conducted and that there should be “no doubt” about the integrity of the probe.
The Political Angle: Silence, Cover, and Delayed Justice
The political dimension of this case cannot be separated from its timeline.
The accused’s father, BJP Councillor Sushant Naik, has refused to make any public comment on the arrest or the allegations. The BJP, whose government controls the state, has not issued any official statement calling for his resignation or distancing itself from the councillor.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been the most vocal opposition voice. A delegation led by Goa AAP President Valmiki Naik met the DIG of Police in Panaji and submitted a formal memorandum demanding a time-bound investigation. The party alleged that initial attempts were made by authorities to conceal the identity of the accused’s father, and that police initially applied only lenient cybercrime sections, stopping well short of POCSO provisions, until NGOs intervened and pressured police to apply the stronger child protection law.
AAP has publicly demanded the resignation of Councillor Sushant Naik on moral grounds.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also weighed in on social media, condemning the BJP government in Goa for the delayed police action and alleged political shielding of the accused.
Victims Were Minors. So Was He — A Legal Complexity
One significant legal development that emerged from the Crime Branch investigation is that both the accused and several victims were minors at the time of the initial alleged incidents, approximately three years ago. This introduces additional legal complexity into the proceedings under POCSO, a law specifically designed to protect children from sexual offences, as prosecutors and the court will need to navigate provisions that apply to juvenile offenders alongside the severity of the crimes alleged.
Legal experts tracking the case note that even if Soham Naik was a minor when some of the offences allegedly occurred, the continuous nature of the alleged abuse, his present adult status, and the number of victims will be central factors in determining how the law is applied.
Community Response: Goa Demands Accountability
The public reaction in Goa has been unlike anything seen in the state in recent years. Citizens marched, picketed a police station through the night, and forced institutional action by sheer numbers. Local NGOs stepped in where the system initially failed, pushing police to apply appropriate legal provisions.
Community voices from Curchorem have been unequivocal: they want not just the conviction of the accused, but accountability from the political establishment that, in their view, slowed justice.
The fact that it took a media exposé, a mob outside a police station, and NGO intervention to get a POCSO FIR registered in a case involving alleged abuse of dozens of minors has left many in Goa questioning whether the system works equally for those without political connections.
What Comes Next
The Crime Branch investigation is ongoing. With the accused’s custody extended to allow further interrogation, investigators are expected to conduct a comprehensive digital forensic analysis of all recovered devices, map the full network of victims, and determine whether any others, including adults, may have been aware of or complicit in the abuse.
The children’s court in Margao will continue to oversee proceedings. Police have urged every victim to come forward, assuring protection and confidentiality.
For the families of Curchorem and for every parent across Goa, the question is no longer just about one man’s arrest. It is about whether a system that took a public uprising to move will ultimately deliver the justice these children deserved from day one.
If you or someone you know has information related to this case, contact:
📞 Goa Crime Branch, Panaji
📞 Childline India: 1098 (Free, 24×7, confidential)
— NewsRevolt India | newsrevolt.in
Reporting by the NewsRevolt Desk. All facts sourced from official FIRs, law enforcement statements, and verified media reports.
