News : Nityanand Gopalika IIT passed Indian engineer in USA accused of using Internet to solicit sex with minor

Nityanand Gopalika from Purnia Bihar, DPS Bokaro alumni and IIT Kanpur graduate, in US on a work visa working with a leading US MNC has been arrested by US police on charges of using the internet for soliciting sex with a minor girl. With this Nityanand Gopalika became the first such case involving an Indian in the US.
Nityanand Gopalika (30) according to Pennsylvania Police used a chat room to approach what he believed was a 13-year-old girl from Pittsburgh, who was in fact an undercover agent from the Child Predator Unit.
Nityanand Gopalika was arrested on July 1 when he arrived at a predetermined meeting location. He was arrested and sent to the Jail after he failed to deposit $15,000 cash bail. His first hearing will be on Friday, July 24. It seems Nityanand Gopalika had a series of chats over several days, questioning the girl about her sexual experiences and describing the sex acts he wished to engage in with her. Gopalika has also been charged with sending the girl two web cam videos that showed him nude or masturbating in front of his computer. His laptop, digital camera and cell phone have been seized by police with incriminating evidence in it.
Despite being so well educated and well placed – how can a person do such acts? The accused linkedin profile indicates that he is in Aerospace Engineering and working with a well known multinational.
May land up for 20-30 years in jailNityanand Gopalika is charged with one count of attempted unlawful contact with a minor (related to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. The additional charge is that of two counts of unlawful contact with a minor (related to obscene performances), along with one count of criminal use of a computer each punishable by up to seven years in prison and $15,000 fines.
What must be going with the family of accused Nityanand Gopalika in Purnia Bihar – one can only sympathize with them. Indians in USA need to more careful as they are not well aware of the laws and get into trouble. May be IITs and engineering colleges should offer courses in US and Internet laws. They should be made more aware of US laws where jail terms can be of eben in 100 years unlike India where it is maximum 15 years. Being more aware will ensure they do not commit such crimes.

Posted in: News