Gym trainer arrested

Police in Surat, India, arrested gym trainer Alpesh Bhavsar for allegedly seducing a female client, secretly recording intimate videos, and extorting ₹5 lakh from her husband. (news18.com) The 32-year-old trainer reportedly built a relationship with the woman during sessions at a Vesu gym, then filmed their encounters without consent starting in February 2025. He threatened to share the videos unless her husband paid ₹5 lakh in installments via bank transfers. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) The husband filed a complaint with Vesu police on April 13, 2026, after discovering the extortion through bank alerts and confronting his wife. Officers arrested Bhavsar the same day, seizing his phone with the incriminating videos. (tv9gujarati.com) Surat police charged him under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for extortion, criminal intimidation, and violating privacy, plus the Information Technology Act for electronic evidence tampering. The woman cooperated with investigators but chose anonymity. (indianexpress.com) India's gym industry has grown to over 40,000 centers serving 20 million members as of 2025, fueled by post-pandemic fitness booms. Yet reports of trainer misconduct, including harassment, have surged 25% in urban areas like Surat since 2023. (statista.com) In 2024, Mumbai police busted a similar racket where trainers at three gyms blackmailed 12 women using hidden cameras, leading to stricter verification rules. Surat authorities now plan mandatory CCTV and background checks for trainers statewide. (hindustantimes.com) Women's safety advocates cite the National Crime Records Bureau data showing 4,45,256 crimes against women in 2024, with cyber-extortion cases up 30%. Groups like SEWA demand gender-segregated training hours in gyms. (ncrb.gov.in) The accused denies recording videos and claims the payments were loans, telling police the couple fabricated the story over a personal dispute. His lawyer says evidence on the phone was planted. (ndtv.com) Vesu police continue investigating potential accomplices, with the gym suspending operations pending a probe. The victim undergoes counseling through local women's helplines. (thequint.com)