Bengaluru: Woman, friend arrested for extorting dentist's family

BENGALURU: City police arrested two persons who allegedly blackmailed a dentist's family and extorted money, stating they had videos which could land him in jail and defame his family. Pramod Kumar, 52, and his friend Leena, 45, of Srinivasnagar near Basavanagudi were nabbed based on a complaint lodged by the dentist's mother, a lecturer in a private college.
According to police, a year ago, Leena's daughter and the dentist had met through an online dating app and had become intimate.The girl and the dentist had captured their private moments on her smartphone. In June this year, the couple parted ways. But, Leena's friend and failed businessman Pramod learnt about the relationship and decided to take advantage of it.
Police said, "Kumar had suffered financial losses in the packaged water business and he was dependent on Leena for his daily expenses. Leena used to work in a private firm and was staying with her daughter after her husband died. Kumar, who was also staying in her house, knew about the private photographs on the girl's phone."
Kumar convinced Leena to extort money from the dentist's family. He called the dentist's mother in August this year and demanded Rs 1 crore to ensure her son's photographs and videos were not uploaded online. He also threatened to get a rape case filed against him.
The lecturer and her husband, a businessman, panicked and paid Kumar Rs 20 lakh. But when Kumar started demanding more money, they informed the police.
"We have not arrested the girl as she was not part of the conspiracy," police said.