Theatre owner alleges ₹25 lakh extortion by five women in Ramanagara; police begin probe

Ramanagara,  : A theatre owner in Ramanagara has alleged that he was blackmailed and forced to pay ₹25 lakh along with gold ornaments by a group of five women, in a case that has raised serious concerns over organized extortion targeting vulnerable individuals.

The 52-year-old complainant, who resides in Agrahara area, approached the police after months of alleged harassment and financial exploitation. Living alone after separating from his wife seven years ago, the man reportedly became the target of a calculated scheme initiated by one of the accused women.

As per the complaint, the woman first met the victim around six months ago at his theatre in Kotipura locality. She reportedly struck up a conversation and expressed interest in marrying him. When he rejected her proposal, she later returned accompanied by other women, gradually building contact and familiarity.

Police officials stated that what began as casual interaction soon turned into intimidation and extortion. The accused allegedly started demanding money and valuables, initially in smaller amounts, before escalating their demands to larger sums.

When the victim refused to comply, the women allegedly threatened to implicate him in serious criminal cases, including rape and offences under the POCSO Act. Under pressure and fearing social stigma, the man reportedly paid large amounts of cash and handed over gold jewellery weighing around 500 grams.

The complaint also mentions that the accused used multiple phone numbers to send threatening messages via WhatsApp, forcing the victim to make online purchases and transfers.

Following the complaint, a case has been registered at Ijoor Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 308. Police are currently verifying the details and working to identify and arrest all accused individuals.

Investigators noted that the victim had been undergoing treatment for kidney-related health issues in Bengaluru for about 15 days, which may have further made him susceptible to pressure.Authorities have assured that strict action will be taken and urged the public to report such incidents promptly.