Bengaluru’s Byadarahalli police have registered an FIR against tattoo artist and actor Arjun (popularly known as Tattoo Ghost) after a woman accused him of blackmail, cheating, criminal intimidation and assault. Arjun allegedly obtained her private photos and threatened to circulate them, collecting around ₹9 lakh from her over many months, the woman has said.
The allegations are part of the woman’s complaint and have not been established in court. Based on her statement, police are investigating and will consider the evidence and circumstances of the dispute.
The woman allegedly met Arjun at a tattoo shop
In the complaint, the woman operates a small cafe near Herohalli and has been supporting herself after the death of her husband. Two years ago, she visited Sri Sai Arts, a tattoo shop in Muddinapalya, to get a tattoo.
It was there that she met Arjun, described as the owner of the shop. The complaint states that the first acquaintance gradually evolved into a close friendship.
The woman said that after learning of her personal situation, Arjun promised to give her a new life and that he would marry her. She trusted him, and he allegedly gained access to her personal photographs.
Alleged money demands started in November 2024
The woman has alleged that the demands for money began in November 2024. Arjun allegedly showed her private pictures and threatened to circulate them on social media when she said she didn’t have money to give him.
Fearing humiliation and possible repercussions to her family, she started paying in installments. The total amount she paid over time eventually reached around ₹9 lakh, the complaint reads.
She claims that even after she refused to make more payments and attempted to distance herself from him, he insisted on more demands.
Allegations of threats and assault
The complaint also alleges that when the woman stopped answering Arjun's calls, he allegedly went to her residence.
He allegedly abused her using inappropriate language and assaulted her, she said in her statement. She told us that he accused her of having a relationship with another person and warned her she’d have to give money whenever he demanded it.
Arjun allegedly threatened to show the photographs to her in-laws and relatives and post them on social media if she did not comply, she claims.
She has also said that he claimed he had links to police officers and local political figures and told her she would never be able to take action against him.
These claims are part of the complaint and will have to be verified during the investigation.
Counter-complaint also on record
The case has attracted attention because the conflict between the two individuals had apparently already begun before, they say.
Bengaluru media reported on 25 September 2026 that a counter-complaint had also been filed in connection with the dispute. A complaint and a counter-complaint are now on record at the same police station, so both a complaint and a counter-complaint were filed at the same police station.
Arjun is famous in local entertainment circles as a tattoo artist and actor, and the dispute has thus attracted attention on social media.
Police to study digital and financial evidence
The investigators are expected to examine the woman’s allegations regarding the timeline of her relationship with Arjun, alleged payments, phone records, messages, and other digital evidence.
Police may also investigate the circumstances in which the private photographs were obtained and whether they were allegedly used to threaten or intimidate the woman.
If investigators find evidence supporting the allegations, relevant provisions of criminal and information-technology laws would apply depending on the facts of the investigation.
The publication of private images without consent and using them to obtain money can have very serious legal consequences. But the legal liability of individuals will be determined by the police’s evidence.
Investigation underway
For now, the FIR lists the woman's allegations that Arjun promised marriage, obtained private photographs, allegedly demanded money from November 2024, collected around ₹9 lakh, and later threatened and assaulted her when she refused to make further payments.
The police investigation is ongoing. The accused should be given a fair investigation, and he has the chance to state his version of events.
The allegations against Arjun remain unproven unless established through due legal process. Further developments in the case will depend on the evidence collected by Byadarahalli police and statements from both sides.
