Mumbai police ‘arrest man’ who threatened to rape Virat Kohli’s daughter

Captain Virat Kohli’s nine-month-old daughter had been the target of vile online trolls after India’s poor start at the T20 World Cup

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A 23-year-old man has reportedly been arrested by police in Mumbai as part of an investigation into vile rape threats directed at Virat Kohli ‘s nine-month-old daughter.

The disgraceful threats began to appear online after India ‘s historic 10-wicket defeat to arch rivals Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in Dubai, according to the MailOnline

Things got worse for India when they then lost to New Zealand, with Kohli’s team getting off to the worst possible start in the UAE.

It proved to be too big of a hole to dig themselves out of, as India failed to qualify for the semi-finals behind the Black Caps and their Pakistani rivals.

After that heavy first loss it was Mohammed Shami who was the target of “spineless” social media trolls, who sent him hateful and Islamophobic messages.

Kohli came out with an impassioned public defence of his team-mate, and wasn’t afraid to share exactly what he thought about those who sent the abuse.

“To me attacking someone over their religion is the most, I would say, pathetic thing that a human being can do,” he said.

But that soon led to the toxic trolls setting their sights on the India captain and his family, with some horrific rape threats directed at his nine-month-old daughter.

And according to News18, a 23-year-old man was arrested by Mumbai Police in connection with the threats.

The unnamed man is a software engineer from the city of Hyderabad.

The arrest comes after Delhi Commission for Women chair Swati Maliwal had pleaded with police to take action over the online abuse.

“It is learnt that he is being also attacked since he spoke against the incessant trolling of his teammate Mohammed Shami who was targeted for his religion by online trolls,” she said.

“This is a very serious matter and attracts immediate action.”

In a Tweet she added: “The team has made us proud thousands of times, why this silliness in defeat? I have issued notice to Delhi Police, arrest all those who threatened 9 months old girl with rape!”

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has also spoken publicly to ask trolls to keep criticism confined to performances rather than attacking families.

“People need to understand it’s just a sport, we might be playing for different countries but we are a part of the same community,” he said.

“You have every right to criticise Kohli’s batting or captaincy but nobody has the right to target a cricketer’s family.

“A few days back [after India’s defeat by Pakistan] something similar happened with Mohammed Shami. Victory and loss is a part of the game.”