Bengaluru police have arrested two men for allegedly extorting gold worth Rs 85.65 lakh from a woman they initially befriended on social media. According to the police, the accused, Mahesh and his accomplice Swamy Vishwanath, gradually pressured the victim to hand over gold jewellery and cash. Investigators revealed that the duo documented the woman’s private moments and allegedly threatened to release screenshots and videos to demand more wealth, turning a friendship into a coercive and criminal act.
The Bengaluru police said that over the course of the scheme, the men forced the victim to give up gold in small amounts. The extorted assets included 571 grams of gold ornaments, which the authorities recovered from two banks and a jewellery shop in Hyderabad. The police believe that the careful and gradual nature of the extortion was intended to avoid raising suspicion while maximizing their gains. The investigation highlighted the growing risks associated with online relationships and the misuse of personal information.
According to the complainant, she had been in touch with Mahesh for about one-and-a-half years after meeting him online. What initially appeared to be a harmless friendship soon turned manipulative, with Mahesh and his accomplice citing fabricated financial troubles to justify their demands. The victim reportedly complied out of fear that her private content would be made public, reflecting the psychological pressure often involved in cyber extortion cases.
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The authorities also revealed that the extorted funds were used for online gambling and personal expenses. Both Mahesh and Swamy Vishwanath were identified as habitual users of digital payment methods to carry out their illegal activities. The case has drawn attention to the increasing prevalence of social media-based financial crimes, prompting the Bengaluru police to warn citizens about the potential dangers of sharing private information online.
The incident underscores the need for vigilance and awareness while interacting with people on digital platforms. Bengaluru police have assured that the accused will face stringent legal action under cybercrime and extortion laws. The recovered gold and evidence from banks and shops are expected to support the prosecution in court. Meanwhile, the case serves as a cautionary tale for social media users to exercise care in online friendships and protect personal data from potential exploitation.
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