Model, three men held for blackmail

A gang of four persons,  including a 24-year-old model, have been arrested for luring a man and blackmailing him for money.

The arrested have been identified as Harshitha, a resident of Yeshwanthapura and a native of Hassan, her associates Sunil, Brijesh and Lokesh. They all claimed to be small screen actors.

On July 18, Harshitha befriended the victim, who is a camera dealer. She invited him to her associate Sunil's house near Deepa Complex in Jnanabharathi. When the victim arrived at the house, Harshitha took him into a bedroom and seduced him.

The entire act was captured on camera without the victim's knowledge. Harshitha and her associates later showed the victim the video clipping and threatened him with dire consequences if he did not pay them money, said the police.

The victim withdrew Rs 50,000 cash from an ATM and gave it to them but they started demanding more money. The victim then borrowed Rs 1 lakh from his friend and gave it to them. The accused also made him sign on five blank cheques and a blank paper.

The victim also gave them his car and electronic gadgets. Unable to bear the harassment, the victim approached the Jnanabharathi police and registered a complaint on July 22.

Based on the complaint, the Jnanabharathi police arrested all the four of them and recovered the cash, car and electronic gadgets. The police are trying to investigate if the gang has honeytrapped more such persons in a similar manner.