A woman from Chikkamagaluru is being held under the jurisdiction of the Bengaluru Central Crime Branch, reported to have engaged in blackmail and extortion of a prominent religious figure of a prestigious Matha (monastery) in Karnataka. The suspect is Spoorthi, who was arrested after the victim approached the police following continuous intimidation and high-value monetary demands.
The Modus Operandi
The ordeal started about five months ago, when Spoorthi started talking on the phone to the seer, the police said. She is said to have presented herself as a former student from Tiptur and was working hard to get to know the person and gain trust. But the tenor of the exchange rapidly changed.
Spoorthi began demanding large sums of money, threatening to release compromising material that would damage both the reputation of the seer and that of the prestigious religious institution he leads. Allegations indicate she went beyond character assassination in this way. Some even go so far as to issue death threats to the pontiff to make him comply with her demands.
Extortion and Escalation
Afraid of a public scandal, the seer allegedly met Spoorthi in one of his visits to Bengaluru and paid her ₹4.5 lakh, ostensibly as a form of retaliation, to make her quiet. But the money emboldened the accused. Not deterred, Spoorthi — reportedly working with accomplices escalated the demand to a staggering ₹1 crore. She also allegedly warned the victim that if the money was not paid, she would put videos and photos online both in the media and on social media. Now the extortion would not stop, the seer broke his silence by filing a formal complaint with the CCB.
A Recurring Threat: The Honeytrap Connection
It’s not the first time this specific religious leader has been targeted by extortionists. The police revealed with a startling surprise, a similar honeytrap attempt occurred two years ago involving the same seer. Earlier, a gang demanded ₹6 crore and the CCB arrested three. The repeated nature of these incidents is cause for concern that organized syndicates specifically target high-ranking religious figures who are often afraid to seek help from the authorities, worried of social stigma.
The Court Intervenes with the Gag Order
By the nature of investigations being conducted and the potential for irreparable harm to the seer's reputation, the victim has moved the court for protection. The court has granted an interim injunction (gag order), prohibiting media houses and social media users from releasing or broadcasting either photos, videos, or defamatory content relating to the seer in this case.
Police Action and Current Situation
After a tactical operation, CCB officials followed Spoorthi back to her home and arrested her. She has now been produced to a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody. “We continue to investigate whether Spoorthi acted in isolation or as part of a larger syndicate. And we're now analyzing her call logs and financial transactions to find possible partners who may have offered her logistical support,” said a senior CCB official. Police have told the public and other high-profile individuals not to fall for such blackmail efforts and to inform either the cybercrime or CCB units directly.
