In a revelation that has shocked the residents of Belagavi, Karnataka, local police have broken a sophisticated extortion racket run by a gang of bogus journalists. The group reportedly set hidden cameras up to film private videos of a woman government officer, and then blackmailed her for a shocking ₹50 lakh.
According to the report of the crime scene investigators by the Malmaruti Police, there is a great deal of premeditated activity involving it because even the spy cameras are found being set up inside the victim’s residence.
The Conspiracy: A betrayal from within
The case was exposed in early February 2026 when a female government employee went to the police with the unsettling case. The plot was organized by someone, officials said, and the villain was T. Vinod, a government employee who allegedly had a professional grudge against the woman. Vinod enlisted the assistance of three journalists and YouTubers in order to enact his revenge and extort money: Abdul Rashid Makandar, Mohammad Balekundri and Sameer Nisar Ahmed.
The group apparently entered the victim’s house in unauthorized circumstances and installed small, high-definition hidden cameras in light bulb holders. Those cameras were utilized to video her private moments for up to several weeks in large amounts, creating a massive cache of sensitive footage.
The ₹50 Lakh Demand
The trio of "journalists" then reached out to the officer with these tapes, threatening to release the videos to the community and broadcast via social media platforms in exchange for payment of ₹50 lakh. The victim refused to be cowered by threats and dangled her voice at the police. Pursuing her complaint, the Belagavi police placed a trap and arrested the accused while caught in their acceptance of part of the extortion money.
Findings are unsettling: 100+ Private Videos seized
Police arrested the accused and seized their mobile phone and storage devices. The digital forensic check showed a mountain of incriminating evidence over 100 private videos were placed across their devices. Now investigators are investigating whether these “journalists” used the same sleight of hand to pick on others of the district’s most famous suspects or government officials.
The Legal Crackdown
The Belagavi police have booked the four accused in terms of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act with regards to extortion, criminal conspiring and violation of personal privacy. This has had major implications for the overall lack of control over digital "journalists" and YouTubers in the region. Local government officials have instructed users to watch the eyes of staff or acquaintances who enter their private areas, and inform the police about any equipment and/or threats to use blackmail promptly.
