Bengaluru has also faced pressure on extortion and blackmail. In Bengaluru, a social influencer has been accused of blackmailing a businessman with leaked photographs and videos. It also receives a particular criticism of taking advantage of intimate ties.
The suspect is Sadhana Shetty, and it is Karthik who owns HK Permanent Make-Up Clinic, and he has a complaint. This complaint was filed at the Jayanagar Police Station, and as of today, officials have initiated an inquiry into the matter. Karthik had first met Sadhana Shetty after involving her in marketing his clinic.
Eventually, the professional association developed into a personal one. According to the report, the couple had multiple dates. At that time, the complainant accused Sadhana Shetty of secretly photographing him and recording videos of him. The complainant said they later allegedly used them to blackmail him, asking for huge amounts of money.
The suspect was allegedly extorting lakhs of rupees from him at first, a businessman said. Under duress, he has moved ₹5 lakh online and paid another ₹5 lakh in cash, he says. He also purportedly offered lavish gifts in the form of a gold ring valued at ₹30,000, a gold chain valued at ₹70,000, and a ₹1.5 lakh iPhone, among others. Regardless of that payment, the accused said she had been demanding a bigger sum of ₹1.5 crore.
For example, Karthik reportedly sent his wife private content via WhatsApp and, in consequence of the request not being met, reportedly started several serious arguments and difficulties with his wife. Karthik took it further when the circumstances escalated, reporting it to the police and more formally complaining.
The authorities dispatched a notice to Sadhana Shetty and have held initial interviews with her since then. During the inquiry, the accused rejected the charges. More investigations are in progress, the police said, adding that Sadhana Shetty is being asked to appear again.
They are investigating digital evidence, financial transactions and communication records to verify, too, the charge. This episode shows the creeping risk of cyber crimes in which profit comes from exploiting a personal relationship that has been “cyber-enabled” that is to say, this was not just criminal abuse; it was a transgression of social policy. Experts caution others not to be too quick to provide private information, and also to think through their views on things they do and don’t agree with online and offline.
