Bengaluru: Woman duped of Rs 2.5 Crore by boyfriend in blackmail scheme

A 20-year-old woman from Bengaluru has reportedly lost ₹2.5 crore, including cash, jewelry, luxury items, and a car, after being blackmailed by her boyfriend, who exploited her trust and the promise of marriage.

The accused, identified as Mohan Kumar, allegedly used intimate videos of the victim to threaten and extort money over several months. The victim, unable to bear the harassment, finally approached the police, leading to Kumar’s arrest.

According to the complaint, the victim and Kumar first met in boarding school, where they became close friends but lost contact after school. Years later, they reconnected and developed a romantic relationship. Kumar reportedly promised to marry her, and the two often traveled together. During these trips, he recorded private videos, assuring her they would remain confidential.

However, Kumar later used the videos to blackmail the victim, threatening to release them online if she did not comply with his demands. Initially, the woman secretly withdrew ₹1.25 crore from her grandmother’s account and transferred it to Kumar’s bank accounts. Over time, she gave him an additional ₹1.32 crore in cash to meet his escalating demands.

Kumar’s coercion did not stop there. He allegedly pressured the victim into handing over expensive watches, jewelry, and even a luxury car. He also transferred money to his father’s account on several occasions.

When the extortion continued unabated, the woman approached the police. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayananda confirmed the arrest, stating, “This was a premeditated crime. The accused extorted ₹2.57 crore, and we have recovered ₹80 lakh so far.”

Police are continuing their investigation to trace the remaining money and gather evidence.