The Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths arrested three persons, including a police constable, for blackmailing a city-based doctor after videographing him in compromising positions with a woman. Three others are on the run.
The accused, Sunil, a transport desk facility manager of a leading vernacular news channel; Hemanth, a video editor of another news channel; and Mallesh, a police constable from K.G. Nagar, were caught red-handed on Thursday when they arrived to collect money from the complainant.
Sunil along with his associates had conducted a sting operation a few days ago. “As per the plan, he sent his associate Riya on the pretext of consulting the doctor to lure him into the trap. Riya went with a hidden camera and videographed the entire event,” the police said.
Investigations have so far revealed the involvement of a cine artiste identified as Nayana, an associate of Riya, along with Raghu, a gym instructor. Efforts are on to nab the trio, an official in High Grounds police station said.
According to the police, the accused started blackmailing the doctor, demanding Rs. 25 lakh. They threatened to leak the footage to TV channels if he refused to pay.
“Scared that he would be exposed, the doctor paid Rs. 1 lakh and promised to pay the rest in some time. But the accused started pressuring him to pay the remaining sum quickly, following which the doctor filed a complaint with the commissioner’s office,” officials said.
A case of extortion has been registered against Sunil, Hemanth and Mallesh.
